Condemn Communal Prey

12th April 2016, Delhi

In the wake of the merciless assault on six ‘Muslim’ students in a violence triggered mob of majority Meitei community on the evening of 25th March 2016, at Iram Siphai and the following incident of similar kind, on 7th April 2016 in which two Muslims students were also lynched to death injuring another in Yangbi Garden at Mayang Imphal, we, the Manipur Students’ community in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, unequivocally condemn these barbaric acts of violence.

In both the incidents, the victims seem to be the target of the communal frenzy mob under the pretext of alleged stealing. There is another rampant suspicion that the victims are just paying the price of the social stigma attached to the Meitei-Pangal community as a community of vehicle thieves and anti-social elements. With these kinds of communal oriented incidents, there is a wider belief and even reports coming up in the national media of Manipur’s inclusion in the communal map of the rising religious intolerance and the BJP-RSS propaganda of witch-hunt against the minority Muslim community in mainland India.

These horrific assaults on ‘Muslim’ students were reprehensible and unjustifiable under any circumstances and it has no place in a civilized society. Therefore, we appeal to the Government of Manipur to take necessary steps to the fullest extent of the law and punish the culprits involved in the crime to ensure that such heinous crimes are never repeated and tolerated.

We believe the incidents were not just ordinary crimes. It once again manifests the rising issue of communalism in our Manipuri society towards the minority communities. Another worrisome development is the emergence of several reports of communal clash, physical attacks, vandalism, burning houses, firings etc. in places like Iram Siphai, Konchak and other parts of the state. The failure of the Police Dept., their insensitivity and inaction on their part to arrest the culprits till date has also given rise to the suspicion that there is a systematic attempt to protect the culprits.

Meanwhile, rumours of unconfirmed news, hate speeches, insensitive remarks and comments, heated claims and counter-claims have been spreading across the social media. As such, we appeal to the collective conscience of the people of Manipur to maintain calm and take a rational and measured approach rather than falling trap to mindless mob frenzy. We also urge the government and responsible Civil Society Organsations to take urgent, proper and serious intervention to prevent the danger of events from going out of control.

Considering the cruelty of the incident and seriousness of its developments in the aftermath, we the Manipur students’ community in JNU from a collective platform took the following position:

1. We condemn the communal hysteria of the mob and atrocities of this nature against the Muslim students. We also condemn the communal stigmatization attached to the Meetei Pangal community, and such other types of communal stereotyping against any community.

2. We also condemn and question the collective conscience of the majority Meetei community who mercilessly watched the incident as spectators and let the culprits assault the victims in full public view. Astonishingly, it is reported that none from the crowd stood up and protested; and not even least to pacify the incident. Isn’t it complete loss of humanity, sense of compassion, civility and benevolence?

3. We seriously question the integrity of the news and media fraternity who failed to produce an unbiased and nuanced reportage of the events as they unfolded. With such questionable incompetence, it is no surprise that rumours and social media outbursts hijacked the information sector to aggravate the situation.

4. We also join in expressing our condolences to the families and friends of the victims and extend our solidarity with the struggle for their justice. We appeal the Govt. and concerned authorities to compensate the families of the deceased victims and extend all possible assistance to those injured in the incident.

5. We condemn the ineffective and irresponsive nature of Govt. of Manipur for not taking timely intervention to prevent further communal clashes that had happened after the incident.

Considering the intensity and gravity of the unfolding sequence of such incidences, we appeal to all the individuals, Civil Societies, political parties, students’ organizations, Human Rights activists, Meira Paibis and other social organizations to take the utmost effort in stabilizing the situation and to see to it that the government undertakes the appropriate actions against all culprits.

Manipur Students’ Community in JNU