Govt urged to act against NSCN-IM
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 16 2021:
Human rights defender and working committee member of National Campaign for People's Right to Information Wahengbam Joykumar has urged the state government not to remain silent on NSCN-IM threatening four RTI activists, who enquired about utilisation of development fund sanctioned for four ADCs of Senapati district last year.
Addressing a press meet at Mani-pur Press Club here on Wednesday, Joykumar recalled that the four RTI activists filed an application seeking information on the utilisation of development fund for four ADCs of Senapati district.
However, NSCN-IM cadres threatened them and demanded them to withdraw the RTI application following which the four activists are unable to stay at home.
Questioning rationale for the NSCN-IM trying to keep under wrap details of development funds for hill areas, he suggested that the outfit stick to its political demand but not to violate the rights of the public.
Raising strong suspicion over unholy nexus between government officials and NSCN-IM, he observed that without the involvement of officials, there is no way NSCN-IM would be aware about the RTI applications and the activists.
A complaint had been filed in this regard to the National Human Rights Commission and the commission referred it to the Manipur Human Rights Commission following which the latter had directed the government to arrange a safe place for the activists who are facing threats, he said.
Expressing concern over the trend of threatening RTI activists in the state, Joykumar said that the state government should not remain silent over the matter but seek assistance of the central forces like the Assam Rifles to arrest the NSCN-IM cadres involved if the state force alone cannot handle it.