Consultative meet urges against gun licences
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 09 2019:
A consultative meet held today at Manipur Press Club agreed to urge the State Government to monitor unchecked issuance of gun licences and the alarming growth of licence gun holders in the State.
The consultative meet was held in the backdrop of the recent attack on the daughter of a family who are serving as main functionaries of an NGO working in the field of human rights.
The consultative meet was jointly organised by the North East Dialogue Forum, Human Rights Initiative and Conflict Widow Forum.
The meet strongly condemned the attack carried out by some unknown armed persons on U Thoibi, daughter of U Nobokishore and Mangsatabam Sobita who have been working as human rights defenders.
The gathering decided to urge Police Department to register an FIR and book all the culprits involved in the attack at the earliest.
It also agreed to communicate with the Chief Minister, the Governor and the Union Home Ministry to pay due attention to the case and provide protection to Thoibi and her family and friends.
The consultative meet further decided to send an urgent appeal to the State Government and the Central Government to respect human rights defenders who are contributing to uphold the rule of law under the framework of Indian Constitution.
To urge the State Government to establish effective mechanism for protection of women and children was another recommendation adopted at the meeting.
Notably, some unknown armed persons who came in a Gypsy fired at U Thoibi at Naorem Leikai under Singjamei police station at around 7.30 pm of July 4.Thoibi's father Nobokishore is actively engaged in the popular demand for repeal of AFSPA since 2004 .
Since August 2017, Nobokishore's life and his organisation came under threat, harassment, intimidation in the form of continuous surveillance, attempt to arrest and freezing of bank account for about one year and a half, according to a statement issued by the North East Dialogue Forum.