Headlines       Vol. 2 Issue 1-2

May 7- May 21 , 1999

Army arrested Sanamacha, says fact-finding report A fact-finding report on the disappearance of a Manipuri youth has found out that the youth was arrested by the Army last year but was neither handed over to the police nor released. The report, submitted to Imphal bench of Gauhati High Court by the District Judge (Manipur East), M. Binoy Kumar recently, after an inquiry, stated that the youth, Yumlembam Sanamacha Singh, was arrested by an Army team led by Maj. R. K. Mahendru of 17 Rajput Regiment from his house at Angtha area under Yairipok police station in Thoubal district on the night of February 12 last year. Stating this advocate S. Lakhikanta Singh, counsel of the petitioner (petitioner is victim's brother), said the court would be approached for action against culprits and for compensation to victim's family. According to the report, Sanamacha Singh along with two neighbours —— Bimol Singh and Inao Singh —— was arrested by the Army personnel, taken to the Army camp on February 12 night last year but was neither released nor handed over to the police. There was no concrete evidence to prove Army's allegations that Sanamacha Singh was an activist of the banned United National Liberation Front and that he escaped from the Army custody. A Division bench of Imphal bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Justice P. K. Sarkar and Justice N. Surajmani Singh had asked District Judge (Manipur East) M. Binoykumar to conduct an inquiry into Sanamacha disappearance issue following a habeas corpus petition filed by victim's brother Y. Radheshyam. Arguments of the inquiry and records of witness, etc., concluded on January 4 this year. Altogether 14 persons including two officials gave their statements. While Bimol Singh and Inao Singh were released soon after their arrest, the mysterious disappearance of Sanamacha Singh rocked the State for several months with All Manipur Students Union and several social organisations including women's group calling Manipur bandh, road blockade, closure of educational institutions, etc. last year to press their demands for production of Sanamacha Singh. The increasing public protest last year resulted in the loss of large public property and disruption of normal life for several months. As the issue became serious, social worker N. Brojendro Singh and Sanamacha's brother Y. Y. Radheshyam filed separate habeas corpus at Gauhati High Court's Imphal bench.

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