YFPHR links Kamalbabu case to AFSPA
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 06 2024: Youth's Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) has alleged resurgence of enforced disappearances by central armed forces, following the re-imposition of AFSPA-1958 in areas under six police stations, with Laishram Kamalbabu as the latest victim.

In a statement issued Wednesday, YFPHR expressed deep concern over what it termed as a "shameless act of brutality" towards civilians, perpetuating fear psychosis in the northeast region.

The forum linked Kamalbabu's disappearance to the "habitual offence" of enforced disappearances carried out by central armed forces, a mere nine days after AFSPA was re-imposed in areas under six police stations in the state.

YFPHR highlighted a grim history of human rights abuses in the state since the 1980s, including extrajudicial executions, rapes, leaving many widows and orphans.

The forum stated that more than 24 cases of enforced disappearances have been recorded, yet no perpetrators have been punished or granted prosecution sanctions to date.

The forum termed the disappearance of Kamalbabu from the high-security Leimakhong Army Camp as "highly suspicious and questionable" and demanded accountability from the Ministry of Defence for the alleged terrorising acts committed by the armed forces.

YFPHR condemned both the Government of India for militarising the state and the state government for permitting mass militarisation since May last year, in the name of curbing violence.

It also criticised the authorities for accommodating armed forces in educational institutions and called for an immediate halt to such practices.

The forum appealed to the government of India and the state government to trace Laishram Kamalbabu without delay and to stop militarisation, while also demanding stringent action against the armed forces for their alleged inhumane acts.

The forum also called for an end to decades of impunity and brutality under AFSPA, 1958, which continues to inflict fear and suffering among the people of the northeast.

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