Worried YFPHR calls for curbing gun culture
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 10 2023:
Taking serious note of the rising armed attacks and gun culture in the state, Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) has appealed to the government to take up necessary initiatives for preventing further proliferation of deadly weapons in the society.
Addressing a press meet at its Palace Compound office, here, on Tuesday, YFPHR secretary T Shadiskanta raised concern over the incidents of armed attacks and threatening people using guns and urged the government for proper scrutiny before issuing firearm license.
The same issue was raised prior to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election and DCs of respective districts issued notices for depositing the licensed arms.
However, numerous incidents of shooting were reported in the run up to the election leading to death and injury of several individuals.
Following the Singjamei incident of December 18, the football World Cup final match day and the Pallel incident of December 24, that claimed the lives of two women, YFPHR drew attention of the government to control gun culture.
The forum also welcomed the initiative taken up by district police during the New Year revelries.
Unfortunately, another such incident took place at Sagolband on January 5 in which a woman was injured after an ASI posted at City police station shot her with his service gun, the secretary elaborated.
He strongly decried such irrational use of licensed and service weapons to kill people or inflict injuries, and demanded the government to terminate services of those police officers involved in senseless shooting incidents.
Shadiskanta also appealed to the government to include classes on human rights, international laws and declarations regarding human rights in the training syllabus of state security force, introduce policy for routine psychological evaluation of in-service armed personnel.
He further suggested that the government frame more stringent criteria for issuing licensed guns and carry out psychological evaluation to prevent misuse of licensed firearms apart from stressing the need for reviewing the criteria for issuance of licensed gun.
Shadiskanta also urged the government to bear the medical expense of Thajamanbi, who was injured in the January 5 incident, and to allow functioning of Manipur Human Rights Commission to its full extent and power.
The secretary said that the forum will submit their demands/proposals in the form of a memorandum to the chief minister and the Governor.