CSCHR distressed on Irom Sharmila re-arrest
- Civil Society Coalition On Human Rights In Manipur And UN -
Imphal, 22nd August, 2014
The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR), a coalition of twenty-four (24) indigenous peoples’ human rights organizations of Manipur in India’s North East region, is deeply distressed that Irom Chanu Sharmila who had been released only on 20th August 2014 by the District & Session Judge of Imphal East has been brutally and inhumanly physically abused, injured and re-arrested by the militarised Manipur Police under an FIR under section 309 of the IPC at around 10:30 AM today.
No arrest memo was served at the time of her cruel re-detention, nor did the police party from Imphal East divulge any official order. An arrest memo was served, violating due procedure in accordance to law, on her elder brother late in the evening by the Sub-Inspector of Porompat Police Station, Mr H. Niangzahoi giving reasons that her arrest is under FIR No. 242 (8) 14 [illegible] – PS u/s 309 IPC. This charge had been already dismissed by the Court of the District and Session Judge of Imphal East.
CSCHR condemns this criminal action against a human rights defender by the police of Manipur as yet another glaring evidence of the intolerant and increasingly totalitarian nature of the government of Manipur which has scant regard for the rule of law and democracy. Irom Chanu Sharmila and her democratic protest must be responded by the state with sensitivity, humanity and a spirit of accommodation to dissent. She must be released immediately, and she must be allowed to meet her family, friends and supporters freely without any restraint whatsoever.
CSCHR considers the actions and steps taken by the government of Manipur as a futile and shameful face-saving attempt in total disregard of the health and welfare of a frail woman who has courageously spoken out against injustice, discrimination and state violence for more than 13 years.
(Dr Laifungbam D Roy)
Convenor
* This PR was sent to e-pao.net by CSCHR who can be contacted at cschrmanipur(at)gmail(dot)com
This Press Release was posted on August 23 2014
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