Probe human rights violation, MHRC to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 21 2023:
The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has ordered the State Government to probe the human rights violation following the ethnic clash on May 3 .
The investigation should be conducted by a police officer not below the rank of IGP in line with the provisions of Section 27 (1)(b) the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.The order was issued on the basis of a case filed by one Naorem Ibomcha Singh.
In his complaint, the complainant who is a permanent resident of Churachandpur said that Meitei communities in the district were affected by the violence by the armed Kuki militants with sophisticated weapons and his gun house namely "Churachandpur Gun House" was also looted by the Kuki militants for which he has filed a FIR and thereafter also approached the MHRC.
He also alleged that the genesis of the present violence/conflict can be traced back from March, 2017 onwards when the State Government of Manipur started identifying the illegal migrants from Myanmar and large scale of destruction of poppy plantations, seizure of narcotic substances during the last 5 (five) years; cracking down against illegal immigrants including Myanmar Nationals; eviction of illegal encroachment into the Reserved and Protected Forest, and demand for implementation of National Registration of Citizen (NRC) in Manipur.
Ibomcha also pointed out that the root cause of the present violence in the State is sponsored by ITLF, Kuki militants supported by elected members of the Kuki-Zo community against the policy of the State Government.
The ITLF and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) are also responsible for violation of human rights of thousands of people including the Meitei Community.
The Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki Revolutionary Army are at present under Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement with the Government of India.
He also alleged that T Guite, a politician and MP from Myanmar who is also the president of Zomi Unification Organisation/ Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRO/ZRA) is also involved in the present communal violence and against whom no action is taken up till today.
With the allegations, the complainant urged MHRC to probe nexus of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), Kuki National Army (KNA), Kuki Zo politicians and officials in the present violence/conflict.
While ordering the State Government to comply with Section 27 (1)(b) the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, MHRC also asked the DGP, Manipur to implement the same at an early date so that the commission can investigate the allegations made in the complaint petition and other complaint petition with its own investigating agency as and when required.