Recent incidents shock ZHRF
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 05 2013 :
The Zomi Human Rights Foundation has expressed its pain, anguish and profound concern over the happenings in Churachandpur town during the last fortnight.
The foundation was shocked and bewildered with the video clip of a nude couple filmed by IRB personnel and which went viral on the net, said a press release.
While condemning the sadistic act of filming and circulating the nude clip by IRB personnel, the foundation also expressed pains over the contamination of the social norms and ethos by the act of the two lovers at a public place.
The two love birds are a public nuisance, their act was wrong morally and ethically and illegal according to the laws of the land, the press release added.
Such act should be condemned by one and all, it added.
The foundation also lauded the role of the Churachandpur District Joint Women Organisations and the social activist, who jointly spearheaded the issue with ZHRF that led to the apprehension of the IRB personnel.
On the other hand, the foundation also expressed its deep concerns over the alleged unprofessional act of the Assam Rifles personnel in conducting a raid at the residence of G Khatkhanthang at Dorcas Veng in the wee hours of July 3 .
"Such uncivilized act of breaking into the house without any order or warrant whatsoever, to search without the presence of any personnel of the civil police reflected the arbitrary act of the security personnel in violating the directions to the security forces for the protection of human rights as laid down by the Supreme Court of India while conducting search", the foundation said.
Such act of house breaking at night is criminal in nature and it has also violated the individual right to life and privacy.
Though the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 empowered and vested power on the security personnel, yet it is not a blanket power.
Their acts too are scanned on the parameters of human rights norms and other criminal laws of the land.
In the case NPMHR v/s Union Of India, the Supreme Court of India while dealing with matter relating to Armed Forces Special Powers Act categorically stated that the security personnel while exercising the power under the AFSPA shall abide the norms as laid down by the Court, the press releease added.
In the instant case, the security personnel violated all the norms laid down by the apex Court.
No name tag or badge could be seen on the personnel, no information were given to ascertain the rank and file of the personnel and the name of their unit, the press relese said.
In view of the above fact and circumstances, the foundation therefore called on all concern to take necessary measures in restraining their might that transgress the rights of individual but to promote justice and accountability in the society.
The foundation appealed the authority concerned to incorporate into the AFSPA the list of Dos and Don'ts as laid down and propounded by the Supreme Court in Naga People Movement for Human Rights v/s UOI.