TODAY -
Naorem Prakash - a Victim of a Repressive Government
By :- Bachaspatimayum Sunzu *
If recent incidences are to be taken as indication, then democracy has become a farce in Manipur where the elected government is going all out to suppress the democratic public outcry over the fake encounter killing that took place at BT Road on 23rd July.
Naorem Prakash, an 18 year old, class 12 student, is the latest victim of the repressive tactics of the Manipur Government to mute any voice of protest against its policies.
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Naorem Prakash lies in the male ward of JN Hospital, all bandaged up with only his left eye visible and that too all bruised up. The 18 year old says he was with his friends when a group of anti-riot police caught them and thrashed them on the evening of 7th August.
He was admitted with multi-disciplinary injuries.'The right eye was hit by a projectile and completely blown-off and there is internal bleeding as well as multiple injuries in the skull', said Dr. Gunabanta Singh, an Eye-Specialist, JN Hospital who is treating Prakash.
While the police maintain that no live bullet was fired on that day other than rubber bullets, the people of Langthabal Kunja alleged that a spent AK-47 bullet found under a heap of Prakash's flesh and blood was the projectile that hit Prakash's temple and exited from his right-eye.
They had caught him and could have thrashed him and let him off. But they had shot with intent to kill him. This is intolerable, shouts an agitated Pakpi who found the spent AK bullet.
Even though Prakash's condition is very critical and desperately needs surgical intervention, conservatory treatment is what he is undergoing at the JN Hospital due to lack of facilities for multi-disciplinary surgery that he needs.
Though battling for his life, Naorem Prakash remained resolute and justified his participating in what he termed as a democratic protest against a wrong-doing.
'What they did was atrocious. To do what they did to someone who was their captive was truly atrocious. Those who are supposed to be safe-guarding the people are turning out to be the perpetrators. We need to stop this.' says Prakash.
According to the doctors, the best place for surgical treatment for Prakash is Rajendra Prashad Centre, AIIMS in Delhi. For a family who lives on hand to mouth existence, going to Delhi is a huge task. Fortunately donations have trickled in but these can never be enough with treatment-cost expected to cross over 3 lakhs.
' My Husband is unemployed, so am I. In order to save my son, people are collecting money for his treatment. What I want to know is whether any help is coming from Manipur Government?' cries Naorem ongbi Pratima,Prakash's mother.
Although the Manipur Government has not come forward with aid, few Charity Trusts and individuals have come forth and donated towards his treatment.
Hoping for the best Prakash boarded a flight bound for AIIM Delhi on Wednesday. He is will operated at Rajendra Prashad Centre, AIIMS by a joint team of an eye-specialist, neurosurgeon and a plastic-surgeon.
* Bachaspatimayum Sunzu (an independent film-maker based in Manipur and working with NETV) is also a regular contributor to e-pao.net. The author's views can be read by accessing
http://bachaspatimayumsunzu.tripod.com
http://manipurreflections.blogspot.com
http://www.awcast.com/view?3s5=kjobsw
and also can be contacted at sunzubm(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on August 18th, 2009.
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