Meet sets 5-day deadline, CORE petitions UN
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 07 2024:
A public meeting convened on the road at Kanto Sabal leading to Leimakhong in connection with the missing of Laishram Kamalbabu on Saturday, demanded the authorities to convene a cabinet meeting within five days and establish the whereabouts of missing Kamalbabu.
Representatives of various civil society organisations also took part in the meeting.
The meeting adopted several resolutions including the demand for convening of cabinet meeting to find missing Kamalbabu within 5 days and cautioned of launching protest for withdrawal of 57 Mountain Division from Leimakhong.
It may be mentioned that Laishram Kamalbabu was working as supervisor under M/S Binod Construction at Leimakhong army camp and went inside the army camp as usual on November 25 in his Honda Activa.
Despite the efforts to find him by using army helicopter, his whereabouts and his vehicle could not be found till now.
Till Saturday, the protestors continued sit-in protests at Kanto Sabal road hindering the movement of army.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) has filed an appeal with the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, urging the international body to look into the disappearance of Laishram Kamalbabu from inside the 57th Mountain Division military camp at Leimakhong.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club on Saturday, CORE'S Elders' Council president Laifungbam Debabrata Roy expressed confidence in the UN Working Group's potential intervention.
He emphasised that the incident, which occurred on November 25, constitutes a violation of human rights, liberty, and freedom as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.
Twelve days have passed since Kamalbabu, a 56-year-old construction supervisor working under M / s Binod Constructions, went missing while engaged in work within the Army camp.
Despite cases being registered at Sekmai and Cachar police stations and a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) being taken up by the High Court of Manipur, there has been no official response from the Indian Army regarding his disappearance.
CORE has formally communicated with the UN Working Group, sending an urgent appeal on Friday.
The incident triggered widespread protests by local residents, including members of the Meira Paibi, who gathered on Kanto Sabal Road near the Army camp on November 26.Demonstrators demanded immediate action from the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 57th Mountain Division to locate Kamalbabu.
The protesters blocked access to the camp using barbed wire, boulders, and excavators while insisting on a search and rescue operation.
According to Ibo Moirangcha, one of the protestors, a meeting between the GOC and community representatives revealed that CCTV footage from the camp's entry and exit points confirmed Ka-malbabu's entry on the morning of November 25.However, no footage showed him exiting the premises.
Another exit point towards Makhan village was also reviewed, further confirming that Kamalbabu disappeared within the Army camp.
Protesters voiced their concern over the lack of security for workers entering the camp, condemning the Army's failure to ensure safety.
Laishram Ratan Kumar, the contractor supervising Kamalbabu's work, recounted that Kamalbabu had entered the camp to oversee construction activities.
His phone was switched off around 2 pm, but no immediate alarm was raised, as he was presumed to be safe within the Army premises.
When Kamalbabu failed to return by 4:30 pm, the contractor contacted the deputy GOC, who reported being unable to locate him.
Ratan Kumar called on the Army to take full responsibility for Kamalbabu's safe rescue, stating that his disappearance within their jurisdiction is unacceptable.
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