Govt pays Rs 5 L to kin of youth who died in Army custody

The family of a 23-year-old youth, who died under mysterious circumstances in army custody in Assam in 2011, has been given Rs five lakh compensation by Defence Ministry on a recommendation by National Human Rights Commission.
The Commission received the compliance report along with the proof of payment paid to Pelong Kemprai, father of the deceased, on August 14, by the Ministry, the rights body said in a statement.
23-year-old Thangben Demprai had died under mysterious circumstances in army custody on March 9, 2011. The NHRC had directed the Defence Ministry to compensate Demprai's kin after going through a magisterial enquiry report and a report by a doctor who is an expert on the NHRC Panel.

The Commission had observed that since the death of Demprai had taken place while in the custody of Army officials, thus his human rights were violated.
It ordered the Defence Secretary to pay Rs five lakh as interim relief to the next of kin of the deceased, after NHRC didn't receive any reply to its notice to the Government asking why monetary relief may not be recommended to be paid to the next of kin.
According to the FIR registered by Demprai's brother-in-law, he was picked up by army personnel of Thaijuwary Camp in his village and later killed under mysterious circumstances.

The FIR lodged by the army said Demprai was brought for questioning from a locked house and the moment he sat in the vehicle parked about 100 yards away, he became unconscious.
He was then taken to the Primary Health Centre, Diyngkukh, where he was declared dead.
The post-mortem report did not reveal any injury.