Imphal, December 17 2009: The Government should owe up to the moral responsibility of the psychological trauma that are being gone through by young children whose father or mother have been killed in the prevailing gun culture, Santana of the Delhi-based People's Union for Democratic Rights (Delhi) has stated.

Addressing a press conference at Hotel Nirmala here today, Santana, who is a member of the fact finding team which is currently at Imphal to study cases of human rights violation in North east India with particular focus on Manipur, observed that incident of human rights violations that are taking place in Manipur has caused psychological trauma to women and children the most.

To help in overcoming this psychological trauma, proper medical treatment and rehabilitation of the victims is essential and it is the moral responsibility of the Government to take care of this need.

Stating that son of Rabina, who was killed in the July 23 Khwairamband Bazar incident, is going through psychological trauma, Santana lamented that inspite of this, the Government of Manipur has not provided any medical treatment or taken up measures to rehabilitate the young victim.

This is very unfortunately.

Suman Goswami of Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (West Bengal), V Hanuman Tharao of Organisation for the Protection of Democratic Rights, Ksh Surbarta Singh of Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (Delhi), K Kranthi Chaitamiya of Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberty Committee and Joyson Mazamo of Naga People's Movement for Human Rights are other members of the fact finding team who were present during the press conference.

Giving his observations, K Kranthi Chaitamiya maintained that the July 23 incident was just a glaring example of the fake encounters taking place in Manipur.

Yet, with exception to suspension of some police commandos, the Government has not taken up any other necessary actions.

Kranthi further elucidated that main objectives of the fact finding team include to stop fake encounters not only in Manipur but also in other parts of India, repealing of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and ensure compensation, medical treatment and rehabilitation of victims of fake encounters.

Taking note of public distrust on the inquiries instituted by the Government of Manipur, Kranthi also assured that the fact finding efforts of the team would be made for exclusive as far as possible.