Dimapur Jan 20 (MExN): The Assam Rifles authorities have strongly refuted the accusations of a youth being sodomized by personnel of the AR, terming the allegations as false, baseless and written with a malicious intent. The news report appeared in a section of the local dailies on January 19.
In a rebuttal issued by the OIC PI Cell, the Assam Rifles authorities stated that basing on specific information received the alleged victim N Chaoba was apprehended by Assam Rifles personnel and taken for inquiry in broad day light on January 16. It maintained that during questioning the said individual had confessed his involvement with the PREPAK in the capacity of Finance Secretary of the outfit at Moreh. His rank, according to the Assam Rifles authorities was ‘SS Lance Corporal’ with 12460 as his number. Police at Moreh was informed about the arrest as well as local Meira Paibis were assured that the individual would be released, if found innocent, the statement maintained.
It further claimed that an officer of the 24 Assam Rifles was present during the apprehending as well as subsequent interrogation of the aforementioned individual and that he was not subjected to any maltreatment. “As per norms, the apprehended cadre was handed over to PS Moreh before 24 hours after an all okay medial examination by the medical officer. The UG did not complain of any maltreatment, even at CHC Moreh” the AR maintained. Stating that the allegation was an ‘afterthought’ with malicious intent that the individual had resorted to such baseless aspersion on AR, the statement said that the AR was people-friendly and ‘cannot even think of such things’. Over the years soldiers of AR have laid down their lives for people of Manipur so such baseless reports are an attempt to malign its image, the AR release stated.
