Updated on Thursday, June 18, 2009, 18:14 IST

New Delhi, June 18: Taking cognizance of a complaint against 15th Assam Rifles personnel for alleged torture of a tribal youth in Tripura, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report on the matter from the Ministry of Defence within four weeks.

The rights panel has recently issued a notice to the secretary of the Defence Ministry in this regard asking him to submit a report in connection with the alleged incident within four weeks from the date of the receipt of the notice.

The rights body has acted on a complaint filed in April this year by human rights activist Suhas Chakma.

In his complaint, Chakma alleged that some personnel of the 15th Assam Rifles in the west district of Tripura picked up one Biswamani Debbarma (25) from his home and tortured him after taking him to their camp.

They also allegedly made him drink some liquid which made his body swell, Chakma claimed.

According to Debbarma, the security personnel wanted him to confess under coercion that he was a member of a militant organisation, Chakma alleged.

As the security personnel failed to "obtain" his confession, they later took him to Sikhari village making him dress in an army uniform and asked him to either identify militants or run for life, he charged.

Debbarma, somehow, managed to escape and hid himself in a nearby forest and remained there for three days without any food, he added.

Bureau Report