[Assam] Army admits to torture - IANS/Gulf News

[Ram Sarangapani]

  This is for folks who think that the army is never held accountable for
their actions.
_______________________

Published: 10/15/2006 12:00 AM (UAE)

IANS


Guwahati: The Indian Army engaged in anti-insurgency operations in Assam is
once again mired in a row over torture in custody of a separatist suspect,
forcing authorities to apologise and order a court of inquiry.

Hundreds of people on Friday blocked a highway for hours near Khowang in
Dibrugarh district, 450km east of here, protesting alleged torture of a
farmer, Nipul Saikia, after he was picked up by soldiers from his house five
days ago.

"I think Saikia was not treated properly and so we have ordered a court of
inquiry. I would like to assure you that the guilty would be punished,"
Major Gen N.C. Marwah, general-officer-commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Mountain
Division, said. Saikia was picked up from his home on Monday on the
suspicion of being a linkman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom
(ULFA) and was kept in custody until Thursday before he was admitted to the
Dibrugarh Medical College with serious injuries.

"Saikia was brought to hospital with rectal bleeding and his condition was
serious. The injuries were suffered probably due to electric shocks," a
doctor attending on him said, requesting anonymity.

The GOC visited Saikia at the hospital and tendered his personal apologies
to him for the incident.

There were similar protests in the eastern Tinsukia district where people in
their hundreds took to the streets to protest the detention of about 20
villagers, including women and children.

The villagers were picked up by the army earlier in the week after an
explosion triggered by the ULFA injured a soldier in the area. The army
authorities on Friday released 10 women and children after the protests.
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