HC directs Delhi, Imphal to explain Meghen's status
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 15 2010: The Gauhati High Court has issued directives to the Governments of India and Manipur to come up with definite explanations on the present status of UNLF chairman RK Meghen alias Sanayaima.

A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice T Nandakumar and Justice AC Upadhyah issued the directive today after hearing the writ petition (Cril) 129/2010 filed by Ibemnungshi, wife of RK Meghen, whose whereabouts still remain a mystery after his reported arrest in Bangladesh and subsequent handing over to Indian authorities.

To the Government of Manipur, the Court directive was addressed to the Chief Secretary while to the Government of India, it was addressed to the Secretary of Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Special Secretary of Union Ministry of External Affairs.

RK Meghen at the outfit camp

Furthermore, the Court has ordered that a copy of the same directive be despatched to the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission.

Along with issuing the directive, the Court has asked the respondents to submit their response in the form of affidavit by December 6 .

The arrest of Meghen at Dhaka by a combined team of RAW agents and their Bangladeshi counter parts was reported by the Tripura based correspondent of BBC, India.

Since then many questions have been raised on the whereabouts of the rebel leader, but Delhi and Dhaka have maintained a stoic silence.

The wife of the rebel leader had also written to the Prime Minister of India to do the needful and act according to internationally laid down humantarian laws.

A large number of civil society organisations had also boycotted the visit of Sonia Gandhi to Manipur recently to protest the conspiracy of silence entered into by Delhi and Dhaka on the present status of Meghen.

Delhi has neither admitted nor denied arresting Meghen and this has given rise to a number of speculations amongst the people here, so much so, that if not checked in time, it could lead Manipur into another spell of uncertain days, with curfew and bandhs walking along hand in hand.