Sit-in held against custodial physical assault of woman in Karbi Anglong

Our Correspondent

Diphu, Sep. 28 (EMN): The public outcry against the physical assault of Miriom Rongpipi by police personnel of Samelangso and Dokmoka police stations become louder with protests taking to the streets on Wednesday.

Kania Tokbi and his wife Miriom Rongpipi, a mid-day meal cook of the same school, were suspects in the missing case of Moneswar Kalita, a teacher of the school who had gone missing since 30 August and is still traceless.

The All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) staged a sit-in at Semson Sing Ingti Memorial Park here on Wednesday, against the physical assault on Miriom Rongpipi and urged authorities to find Moneswar Kalita.

A complaint letter submitted to DC, Karbi Anglong, said that on suspicion, several villagers of Pinkhat Rongpi village, Samelangso were pick-up by police for interrogation. Kania Tokbi and his wife Miriom Rongpipi were also taken to the police station for interrogation. In the police station the O/C of Dokmoka Police Station, Nilumoni Malakar mercilessly beat up Miriom Rongpipi, it claimed.

The complaint letter also said that Malakar insisted Miriom Rongpipi say that Moneswar Kalita visited her house on August 30 and had breakfast. Miriom Rongpipi, refusing to make the false stories asked by Malakar, was beaten severely with wooden clubs and bamboo sticks, it further alleged.

It also said that the police allowed Miriom Rongpipi to return home on September22, but Kania Tokbi was still kept under police custody without producing before the judicial magistrate even more than the permissible 24 hours. On September 25,  Kania Tokbi was produced before the judicial magistrate and was lodged in the Diphu district jail.

The APHLC also alleged that on September 21, Kania Tokbi and Miriom Rongpipi were taken to a doctor at Dokmoka Mini Primary Health Centre; the police threatened them not to tell the doctor that they were being beaten by police.

Miriom Rongpipi is now being treated at Diphu Medical College and Hospital for swelling and wounds on her legs and back.       

Spokesperson, APHLC, Angtong Ingti Kathar has urged the Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuliram Ronghang to extend his support in getting justice for Kania Tokbi and his wife Miriom Rongpipi.

The APHLC has demanded to take action against Nilumoni Malakar under sections 87 (b), (c) and (d) of Assam Police Act 2007 and Article 21 of the Indian constitution, not to harass the villagers in the name of investigation and to pay compensation and medical expenses to the two victims. The APHLC also demanded constituting a magisterial inquiry on the missing of the teacher and expressed full cooperation in finding Kalita.

Likewise,at Dokmoka town, various organisation including Karbi Students’ Association (KSA),the Asom Jatiyabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), and Karbi Anglong Women Justice Forum (KAWJF) carried out a protest rally, which ws  participated by nearby villagers of Langlokso and Samelangso.

Later in the evening the KSA (Samson Teron) faction lodged an FIR against Dokmoka Police officer in-charge Nilumoni Malakar at Diphu police station.

On the other hand, the Asom Jatiyabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad AJYCP, Karbi Anglong District Committee and KSA, Bokajan district, during a press meet on Tuesday, condemned the incident and questioned the action of the law and order authority. The organisations have further demanded action against the police officer for his inhuman act.