Follow-up of case IND 150208_Mr. Abi Chiru's whereabouts located but fear for his safety prevails

Geneva, 27 February 2008

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has received new information about the following situation in India.

New Information

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE), a member of OMCT SOS-Torture network, that Mr. Abi Chiru’s whereabouts were located and that he was released on 20 February 2008 by the Indian Armed Forces.

According to the information received, Mr. Abi Chiru, 18-year-old resident of Uran Chiru Village, Senapati District, was arrested on 27 January 2008 and detained in the camp of the 24 battalion of Assam Rifles posted at Moreh (a bordering town to Burma/Myanmar) on mere suspicion of being a member of an armed opposition group. He was allegedly confined during his detention in an isolated dark room, blindfolded, beaten and threatened at gunpoint to admit to be a member of an armed opposition group, which he reportedly repeatedly denied. He was also allegedly threatened to death not to disclose any information about his detention and to report that he had been arrested by the Myanmar Army.

The International Secretariat of OMCT welcomes the release of Mr. Abi Chiru but remains gravely concerns for his physical and psychological integrity, in particular following the alleged death threats not to disclose any information. OMCT recalls to India that according to article 7 and 9 1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which it is a State party, no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. OMCT calls on the authorities to order a thorough and impartial investigation into these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law. Further, as an elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, India should particularly guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Brief reminder of the situation

OMCT was informed of the forced disappearance of Mr. Abi Chiru, in Manipur since 27 January 2008.

According to the information received, on 27 January 2008 at around 3:00 p.m., Mr. Abi Chiru was arrested along with his uncle, Mr. Nungshipa, by personnel of the 24th BN, Assam Rifles stationed at Moreh, when they were trying to enter Moreh Gate No.2, at the Indo-Myanmar border. Both had reportedly gone to Moreh for shopping. The reasons of their arrest remained unclear.

While Mr. Nungshipa was subsequently released after a brief interrogation, Mr. Abi Chiru was allegedly detained. Mr. Nungshipa reportedly got home and informed Mr. Abi Chiru’s family of his arrest. His family along with an organisation started searching for him and inquired before the Moreh Police and some army officials but without success. Mr. Abi Chiru’s whereabouts had remained since then unknown.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in India urging them to:

1. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Abi Chiru;
2. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into these events in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
3. Guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to the victim;
4. Ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standard.

Addresses

• Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India, Rastrapati Bhavan, New Delhi 110004, India, Fax: Fax: 91-11-23382365, 91-11-23711772
• Shri Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister’s Office, Room number 152, South Block, New Delhi, India, Fax: + 91 11 2301 6857
• Shri Shivraj Patil, Union Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, 104-107 North Block, New Delhi 110 001 India, Fax: +91 11 2309 2979.
• Justice K. G. Balkrishnan, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court, Tilak Marg, New Delhi -1, Fax: +91 11 233 83792, Email: supremecourt@nic.in
• Justice Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of India, Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi 110 001, Tel: +91 11 230 74448, Fax: +91 11 2334 0016, Email: chairnhrc@nic.in
• Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Babupara, Imphal, Manipur, India, Fax: 91 385 222 1817, Email: cmmani@hub.nic.in
• Permanent Mission to the United Nations (Geneva), Rue du Valais 9, 1202 Geneva, Tel: +41 22 906 86 86, Fax: +41 22 906 86 96, Email: mission.india@ties.itu.int
• Embassy of India in Brussels, 217 Chaussée de Vleurgat, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Fax: +32 (0)2 6489638 or +32 (0)2 6451869

Please also write to the embassies of India in your respective country.

Geneva, 27 February 2008.

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply