Prosecute cops during trial period: EEVFAM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 03 2019: Following a public meeting which was organised under the aegis of EEVFAM at Lamyanba Shanglen today, various resolutions were adopted which included urging the State Government to grant prosecution sanction to police personnel indicted by CBI, to suspend all such police personnel during their trial period, to appeal the MHRC to direct the Government for speedy trial and to appeal the CSOs to stand in solidarity with EEVFAM.

During the public meeting, which was attended by leading lawyers, representatives of civil society organisations, academicians etc, it was resolved to urge the State Government to grant prosecution sanction to all the police personnel who were indicted in the CBI charge sheet in connection with the extrajudicial cases in the State without any further delay.

The meeting resolved to ask the Government to suspend all police personnel indicted in the CBI charge sheet from active service during the period of the trial and to take necessary actions, including cancellation of bail for the police personnel in the CBI charge sheet as well as those who are indulging in threat, intimidation and harassment of witnesses and families of the victims of extra judicial execution cases.

The public meeting further resolved to appeal the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to issue appropriate recommendations to the State Government to ensure speedy trial.

It was also appealed to all the CSOs, including local clubs and community organisations of the State, to stand in full solidarity with EEVFAM in the fight for justice of the families of the victims of extra judicial execution and to ensure that they (witnesses and families) are offered unconditional solidarity and protection from threats, intimidation and harassments at all times.

Speaking at the public meeting, Coalition of Indigenous Rights Campaign (CIRCA) spokesperson Ningthouja Lancha said that Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 is an easy way to annihilate the indigenous people of the North East Region without staging any encounter.

He observed that the people of the State and the North East as a whole, must stand united for a mass resistance movement against the Bill and any colonial policy introduced against the people of the region.

Speaking as the guest of honour in the one day public meeting on the emerging challenges in EEVFAM's journey for justice, Lancha alleged that India, headed by Narendra Modi Government, is now having the audacity/courage to pass CAB 2016 in the Lok Sabha as the people of the State and the North East failed to respond properly against the dangerous acts carried out by the Central Government like implementation of AFSPA.

He went on to state that it is pertinent for all the people in the State and the North East to ask themselves whether they are getting liberty and freedom at this point of time while pointing out that martial laws like AFSPA are being enforced in the region although the same people are made to exercise their adult franchise and form Governments.

Asking whether the North East region is being kept around only for protecting mainland India, Lancha, who is also the convenor of Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 (MANPAC), alleged that the Indian Government has failed miserably in protecting the people of the State as many civilians, as much as around 1528, were killed in extrajudicial killings.

Lamenting that the State Government leaders seem to be content with just the proposal for the insertion of a clause for exempting Manipur in the CAB although their counterparts in other North East States like Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram are boldly opposing the Bill, Lancha underscored the importance of withdrawing the Bill completely.

He also decried that a leader of the State bent down and touched the feet of a leader coming from Delhi which shows the owner-servant relationship between Delhi and the State and such relationship are not in the essence of a democracy.

Alleging that CAB was passed in the Lok Sabha in violation of the Indian Constitution, Lancha also explained that the move to boycott Hindi, Modi and symbols of the Indian Union is the consequence of the violation of Indian Constitution by those in power.

Meanwhile, EEVFAM president Renu Takhellambam lamented that the threat to safety and security of the victim families, witnesses and petitioners regarding the extra judicial killing cases in the State continue unabated.

Recounting that there was an incident of a police officer (accused) threatening a victim's family to compromise on certain grounds in connection with a fake encounter case, she went on to decry that the source of such problems is the fact that many of the police personnel, including high ranking officers, who are indicted in the CBI charge sheets, are still in active service.

These are some of the main emerging challenges present in EEVFAM's journey for justice, she added.

On the other hand, Khaidem Mani, Chairperson of MHRC, appealed to all to file petitions or complaints to the Commission if any of their rights are violated.

He continued that the people of the State need to be courageous while fighting for justice.

All India Lawyer's Union, Manipur Unit president Puyam Tomcha lauded the role taken by EEVFAM and Human Rights Alert (HRA) is pivotal for bringing justice in the Manipuri society.

Stating that every section of the society need to support EEVFAM and HRA's fight against injustice, he also expressed hope that advocates in the State will extend support in the relentless efforts of EEVFAM and HRA.

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