Assam court moved over woman activist's disappearance
Published: 20th February 2013 07:12 PM | Last Updated: 20th February 2013 07:12 PM | A+A A-

Two Assam-based NGOs have approached the Gauhati High Court seeking
details of the "disappearance" of a woman rights activist, about whom
police claimed that she has joined banned militant outfit ULFA.
Women
in Governance (Wing-India) and Women Alliance for Violence Against
Women (WAVAW) filed a habeas corpus petition in the court seeking the
details Majoni Das, 30, and also asked the United Liberation Front of
Asom to make it clear whether Majoni has joined the outfit.
The
NGOs claimed Majoni Das's "disappearance" was one of the many cases of
"forced disappearances" that take place in the northeast region.
They demanded the police to step up investigation about the whereabouts of Majoni and disclose the facts.
The
woman, a teacher and a rights activist hailing from Demow in Sivasagar
district of Assam, left her home to meet the superintendent of police
(SP) of Sivasagar district on Feb 10. She was summoned by the police
chief. Majoni has remained untraced since then.
"When the family
members approached the police the next day, the police informed them
that Majoni had joined the ULFA and that she had left for Nagaland,"
Bondita Acharya of the Wing-India told reporters here.
The
police chief also informed the media the same day that Majoni had joined
the militant outfit and circulated her photographs to the media.
"The
SP of the district also asked the family members of Majoni Das to go to
Nagaland and bring her back. The police claimed that they had proof
that Majoni had joined the outfit," said Acharya while pointing out to
the mental harassment on the family members.
"We don't think that
Majoni has joined the outfit. She left home to meet the SP and went
missing since then. How can the police ask us to go to Nagaland and find
out my sister? Is it not the duty of the police to find out Majoni
after we lodged a missing person complaint?," asked Majoni's sister,
Bharati Hazarika.
"When we approached the police seeking the
details of Majoni, the police refused to divulge any details to us,"
said Acharya while adding that the NGOs have filed a habeas corpus
petition in the Gauhati High court seeking the details of Majoni.
"Police
have also refused to inform us as to why Majoni was summoned by the SP.
The police claimed that they are aware that Majoni will join the
militant outfit and leave for its camps in Myanmar through Nagaland - in
that case, was it not the duty of the police to stop her from joining
the outfit?" said Acharya.
"The family is worried as they about
10 years back lost their son Diganta Das in a similar mysterious
disappearance case. The question arises whether police are responsible
for the sudden disappearance of Majoni or was it her choice?" she said.