Release Mr Thokchom Veewom

15th February 2019

Youth’s Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) strongly condemn the action of the Police Personnel of the Janakpuri Police Station, New Delhi for arresting Mr. Thokchom Veewom the former President of and Current Advisor of Manipuri Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD) today at around 5:15 Pm while he was at his residence preparing for his examination.

We received information that Veewom was charged under Section 124 (A) IPC and was arrested by the Delhi Police not even allowing him to wear his sleepers and further been informed that he has been subject to torture by the Police.

It could be mentioned that on the 12th of February, 2019 some Police personnel of Lamlai P.S approached the family members of the victim informing that not to let him involve in any activities being prevails in the state on CAB, 2016.

One cannot deny the fact that the act of sedition invariably cannot be applied to those who have expressed discontentment against an act of the Government where the public have only the intention of criticizing a move or action plan of the Government when it may amount to bringing a social disorder with extreme repercussion affecting the hard earned cultural ethos of a community. The ongoing trend and the turmoil brewed up on the issue of Citizen amendment bill in the north east part of India should not be visualized from a political affront but be rather understood from the apprehension and phobia faced by communities whose identity as the indigenes of a region is under threat.

The expression of any kind under a reel of fear and distress should not be turned into a mass of seditious feelings or enmity as the cause of the fear might have the chance of relinquishing the very identity of a community without any provocation or inducement charged against any establishments by the aggrieved community.

The establishment as a public institution should be under an obligatory intent to atleast understand the as to why the disruption has been caused and for what reason instead of relating the woes and worries of the community to an act/feeling of hatred or disloyalty and by reason of which the establishments need to ponder so to deliberately consider the movement of discontent of the community.

The voice in People of Manipur and other parts of North East India must be the bacon light of urgent distress of losing a history old identity which no man for that matter desires to lose.

We strongly condemn the action of Delhi Police in collaboration of Manipur police of arresting a civilian and further appeal to release him unconditionally immediately. We further appeal the government not to misuse the rule of law in the interest of their proceedings.

(Kh Phajaton)
Youth’s Forum For Protection Of Human Rights
Palace Compound West,
Imphal East – 795001