A rights activist from Manipur, whose husband was killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Assam Rifles, has sought urgent intervention of the state police chief, complaining that she was threatened with intimidation, destruction and demolition of property by Manipur police commandos, The Telegraph reported.
“The police commandos stormed my house and started destroying things. They entered every room and started searching each nook and corner of the house, turning everything upside down. I asked them not to destroy my belongings but they dragged out all my belongings from the cupboard and bed and threatened me,” said Salima Memcha, in a letter written to Manipur DGP LM Khaute on Saturday.
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Salima, who hails from Thoubal district in Manipur, said the state criminal investigation (CID) department had taken up the case of her husband’s killing. She was supposed to visit the CID (crime branch) on Saturday morning as she was summoned.
“However, because of this incident, I was not able to visit the CID office out of fear. The police had threatened me with dire consequences and were watching me,” added Salima.
Her husband, Md Fajiruddin, was allegedly killed by the 33rd battalion of the Assam Rifles in 2010.
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Renu Takhellambam, an activist of the Extrajudicial Execution Victims’ Families Association, Manipur, whose husband was also killed in an alleged fake encounter, said the police action against Salima, who lives with her only son, is inhuman. “The police came to threaten her without a warrant,” she added.
Salima is the Thoubal district coordinator of the association, which is the petitioner seeking an inquiry into 1,528 cases of alleged fake encounters before the Supreme Court. The case is listed for hearing on April 16.
Salima, in her complaint, said, “When I spoke of my scheduled visit to the CID in connection with the killing of my husband, the police officer rudely said my husband was a militant,” said Salima.
While the police were destroying my property, the women police personnel left the house saying they were not happy with the harassment of an innocent woman, she added.
“One of the policemen threatened me saying that I was the one whom they (the police) were looking for months. The police action is the direct reprisal of my effort to seek justice. My family is feeling insecure and worried,” said Salima.
She also enclosed a photograph of a policeman who had threatened her and a picture of her destroyed property.