Imphal, February 25: Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has expressed serious concern about the human rights situation in Manipur.

In a world wide urgent appeal issued today, entitled 'India: Continuing human rights violation in Manipur-murder, assault, torture, failure of rule of law and intimidation' the Hong Kong based-AHRC said it has received information regarding continuing human rights violations in Manipur.

The local police and army under the cover of draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 is engaged in brutal acts and their deeds are left unchallenged in all impunity, the AHRC appeal said.

In a series of incidents reported from Manipur at least two persons have been jailed on false charges, a family has been beaten and an entire village have been threatened, since they dared to speak about restoring peace in the community, the appeal added.

Taking up a point by point of the case studies, the appeal pointed out that in a retributive action to the killing of four police commandos including Inspector N Lokhon Singh by activities of the proscribed PLA at Thoubal Bazar on February 20, the police commandos came in four jeeps in the evening and barged into the house of Bikash, a sergeant of PLA who was also killed in the same attack and beat up the bereaved family members.

The commandos also reportedly ordered the family members not to complete the last rites of Bikash, warning that if the family members defied their orders a second member of the family would be killed.

In another case, two innocent persons, namely Pechimayum Yaima Singh and Ms Leimapokpam Bilashini who were picked up by Imphal East police commandos during a raid conducted in the early morning of February 10 have been detained at Sajiwa Jail on false charges.

Both Yaima and Bilashini are members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) constituted against the custodial killing of L Premananda, who was killed in a fake encounter by the police commandos of Imphal East, the AHRC appeal said.