Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Security forces pulled 47-year-old Akoijam Shankar Singha from his home in Silchar, Assam. Authorities claim Singha, a member of the United National Liberation Front-Pambei, shook down truck drivers on National Highway-37. He remains in custody following the operation.
Singha’s wife tells a different story. She claims officers forced her to sign papers falsely stating his arrest occurred at 10:45 pm on August 7. She insists authorities actually snatched him near the Cachar Udarbond oil pump at 9:30 am that morning. Family members and activists want the local Superintendent of Police held accountable for these alleged procedural violations.
Tensions boiled over into the streets this Saturday. Members of the COCOMI Women Wing and local groups staged protests throughout Jiribam, demanding Singha go free. The Jiribam Development Organization and local Meira Paibi Lups triggered a complete town shutdown to force the state's hand.
FOCS Vice President Arambam Rabindra warned that this arrest undermines the peace framework facilitated by the Government of India. He claims officials lured men covered by a peace deal to the Jiribam Police Station for a fake dialogue before booking them. "Individuals covered by an ongoing peace agreement with the government were brought to the Jiribam Police Station under the pretext of holding a dialogue before being booked under criminal charges and detained," Rabindra stated.
FOCS has issued a three-day ultimatum for the unconditional release of Singha and other detainees. They fear this aggressive policing will derail long-term stability efforts in the region.
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