Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 31 (EMN): The Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress (NPYC) on Wednesday demanded the government of Nagaland to immediately set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into the ‘custodial death’ of Henveih Phom and ensure justice for the victim. In a memorandum submitted to the chief minister of Nagaland, a copy of which was made available to the media, the NPYC stated that Phom’s alleged ‘custodial death’ on August 21 at a district jail in Sivasagar after being arrested by the Assam Police on August 16 was “disturbing”.
Stating that the incident had triggered a hue and cry in the state, particularly in the eastern Nagaland area where a mass protest rally demanding justice for the victim was held, the youth Congress questioned “the silence and indifferent attitude of the Government of Nagaland” for the last 10 days since the incident took place.
As a body concerned with the welfare of the youth, the NPYC said it has no option left but to remind the state government of its paramount responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens and ensure justice for victims.
“It has come to (our) knowledge that late Henveih Phom was detained for not being able to pay the arbitrary amount of money demanded by (the) Assam Police for his release. He was inhumanly beaten and brutally tortured while in the custody of Assam Police, ultimately leaving him dead,” read the letter.
It condemned the high-handedness of the Assam Police, which it said is not only unwarranted but also a heinous crime against humanity. There can’t be justification for custodial death, it added.
The youth Congress urged the state government to leave no stone unturned in bringing the culprits to book and to secure justice for the victim and his family at the earliest. Failing to initiate appropriate measures, it said, will compel it to take up further democratic steps till justice is delivered.
It also extended solidarity with the Phom community in general and the bereaved family of Henveih Phom in particular.