KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 2: In total violation of the Juvenile Justice Act, a minor from Thenyizumi Village under Phek district, was brutally beaten up in North Police Station in Kohima on October 25 as reported in Eastern Mirror on November 1.
The minor, a 17-year-old studying in class XI at Government Higher Secondary School, Seikhazou Kohima was wrongly implicated in a theft case. He was accused of stealing a graduate teacher’s bag containing academic documents and Rs 40,000 in cash at DBS area in Kohima.
Talking with media persons who visited the victim at his paternal uncle’s place at Kohima this evening, the minor said in the early morning at around 4 am on October 25, the police officer in question, identified as Neiphretuo Khezhie, came to the North PS and started beating him even as he pleaded his innocence.
The police officer reportedly told the minor that he was found stealing the bag through CCTV footage. When the victim asked the officer to show him the footage, the police officer allegedly started beating and shouting at him.
The police officer is said to have even accused the minor of being a murderer and threatened to kill those who release him.The victim said the officer, allegedly in an inebriated state, slapped him several times, beaten him for almost an hour with police lathis. He also said to have threatened the victim that he will be given transfer certificate by his school and will also be expelled from Kohima.
The victim said there were other police personnel who were just watching the officer beating him. The police officer gave him food after the torture, he said.
The minor’s aunty narrated the incident that led to his arrest on October 24. She said the victim visited his neigbour’s place where a house construction was on. The complainant was staying at his brother’s place there for a month.
The next morning, she said they were informed by the complainant who came to their house that his bag was lost and accused the minor of stealing it. Despite their assurance to talk with him about it, the teacher lodged an FIR in North Police Station, she said.
She said the police team came and arrested the juvenile on October 24 evening. The guardian who rushed to the police station upon his arrest was reportedly told that the minor need to be in the custody for interrogation.
Left with no choice, the victim’s paternal uncle has requested the police officers not to beat him or harass him and left the police station.
The victim’s aunty said they were not aware of the beating until they reached the police station the next morning and was shocked to find the victim in a battered condition. After the FIR was withdrawn by the complainant, they later took him to Naga Hospital for treatment where he is still undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, she also informed that the case was taken up by the Swurotsomi Clan of Thenyizumi Village, who has written to the District Child Protection Officer, Kohima.
The Clan in their letter has demanded for the copy of video footage of torturing by the duty officer, arrest and hand over the complainant to the youth organisation and interpretation and justification of the juvenile as per the constitution/human rights.
It has also warned that failing to respond to its demand within 10 days, the clan shall exercise its rights with its own choice. They have also attached the birth certificate of the victim proving his age.
Presiding officer, Juvenile Justice Board, Tucuno Vamuzo talking to this correspondent expressed regret over the incident. She said the arrest of the minor was not informed to the Juvenile Justice Board, which should have been done.
Once the FIR is filed, she said it will come under proper IPC and necessary action will be initiated as per the law against the erring official and the complainant.
Also talking to Eastern Mirror, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) officer, Povezo said it is ready with all the necessary documents to file FIR at North Police Station tomorrow ( November 3) against the police and the complainant. He also informed that DCPU will be raising the issue with the State Child Rights Commission and will send the copy of the FIR to the SP Kohima and DGP as well.
The Kohima Chakhesang Students’ Union (KCSU) has vehemently condemned the October 24 incident wherein one of its members Sehuto Nakro, a 17-year-old of Class XI student of Govt. Higher Secondary School Seikhazou, was falsely alleged to have committed theft followed by brutal torture on him at North Police Station, Kohima.
Sehuto was taken into custody by police following allegation of theft at the home of a graduate teacher Krovelhupe Koza. He was allegedly brutally tortured by a drunk duty officer at North Police Station, Kohima.
Asking on what ground/leave Krovelhupe Koza was stationed in Kohima when his posting is in Government Middle School, Chozuba, president of the union Hukhoto D Vadeo and general secretary Lucas Dukru, in a release, on Wednesday demanded to know as to why the teacher made false allegation of theft against Sehuto leading to the inhuman torture when he had just misplaced his cash and other belongings.
The union said it was irked over how a respectable person like a teacher could have led to suffering of an innocent student just because of his “absent mindedness”. It felt that an “irresponsible person” like Krovelhupe Koza should never be allowed to hold a prestigious position of teacher.
The union urged the authority concerned to take necessary steps to remove him from his institution or else similar or worst situation may arise in future.
It also sought response from the authority concerned on how they allowed a responsible duty officer to be on duty under the influence alcohol and if the authority allows torture of innocent public without proper investigation just because he/she happens to be in police custody. The barbaric and merciless act of the officer on duty is a crime against humans, it stated.
The union urged every sensible citizen to strongly fight against such brutal and insane act and also appealed to the law enforcing authority to award befitting punishment to culprit as per the law of the land, in order to prevent such inhuman act in future.
