Uprooted folks of CCpur share testimony to MHRC team
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 28 2023: Churachandpur lately has become a subject of discussion for so many things infamous, from the allegations of presence of drug syndicate to rogue elements taking part in the tribal solidarity march of ATSUM on May 3 and exploiting the sentiments of the people to attack Meetei settlement areas to name a few.

It was to meet the displaced Meetei people from Churachandpur that a team of Manipur Human Rights Commission led by its Chairperson Justice UB Saha visited different relief camps in Bishnupur district and interacted with the people who have been taking refuge in the district after they were forced to flee their homesteads after the May 3 uproar.

Uprooted folks of CCpur share testimony to MHRC team

One of the common and serious allegations which many of the inmates raised during the interaction was "Law and order never existed in Churachandpur and both the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) are being controlled by Kuki Students Organization (KSO)" .

The MHRC Chairman was accompanied by member KK Singh, head of investigation division, IGP Mamta Wahengbam and Law Officer W Basantakumar. Both the DC and SP of Bishnupur district and Thoubal DC were also present during the visit.

The MHRC chairperson interacted with the displaced people at Utlou SAI complex where 192 displaced people from Thingkangphai village and Torbung Bangla are taking refuge.

H Catherine, a student from Khuga Tampak told Justice UB Saha that she is ready to return to her birth place if the Government can provide adequate security.

Responding to her, Justice UB Saha said that the purpose of their visit is to assess the human rights situations of displaced people but he nonetheless agreed to convey their concerns to the State Government.

The MHRC team also visited the Old DC complex in Bishnupur where 91 families are staying.

An inmate Laishram Arom informed that the police haven't recorded any statement of the displaced people till date despite filing different complaints to them regarding the violence in Churachandpur.

One police officer who took part in the visit informed that several Zero FIRs were registered with them and all of them have been transferred to Churachandpur police station under whose jurisdiction the incidents had taken place.

Justice UB Saha also enquired about the basic facilities including food and medical being provided to the displaced people and learnt that the district administration has been providing food and medicines to the relief camps.

Later, the MHRC team visited the relief camp set up at Moirang College.

There, the displaced people complained about lack of clothes in the camp, following which MHRC Chairperson advised the Bishnupur DC to look into the matter.

The MHCR Chairman also suggested the district administration to depute at least one staff nurse at each relief camp.

A juvenile and differently abled inmate Khumukcham (only surname) claimed that she still doesn't get any benefit from the Government scheme meant for the people with disability.

Responding to the complaint, the Bishnupur DC assured that he would provide relevant benefits to the differently abled juvenile.

On the way back, the MHRC team inspected the District Hospital, Bishnupur where they have been informed that 20 doctors are available in the hospital, of which two of them are specialists in medicine.