Condemn the Custodian Killing of SM Manjur Ahmed

New Delhi, 02nd April, 2019

Sometimes we assume that gone are the days that the Indian Army tortures, rapes and kills our brothers and sisters even for a mere suspicion. The slogan used by the Army ‘SHOOT AT SIGHT’ is considered as archaic however we are wrong. Nonetheless the same age old colonial structure still remains. The Manipur state and its various institutions are reluctant to learn from the past incidences and to reform themselves but retain the very colonial character of Indian armed forces.

The recent custodial death of S.M. Manjur Ahmed of Yairipok Ningthounai, police personnel in a joint interrogation cell of Manipur police is a clear case of murder which gives a reflection to hide a high level conspiracy in releasing Thokchom Nando.

It is a highly condemnable and a shameful act. While the various cases of gross human rights violations, extra judicial killings and others are still pending, kidnapping and killing of innocent people, emerged in a new form and the victims from the marginalised section of the society ended up without getting the fair justice while the culprits roam freely.

Four months back, killing of Md Gaffar of Lilong in the army custody went a non-issue and could not formed a new shape for many wrong reasons including that of ethnic line sidelining. And the mere suspension of officials becomes a tool to buy the agitators.

Earlier many several cases also remained unsolved or closed without conducting the overdue judiciary trial and left unattended without delivering the justice. A State which is unable to dispense its judiciary role and unable to do justice towards its people is a significant character of a failed state.

It seems justice is destined to get only by the authorities. A simple criticism against the state authorities on social media always gets swift justice under the so called laws while the people gets lost in the legalities of the state in seeking justice.

The so called police modernisation is just a show off to divert the funds and to increase the surveillance capacity in order to protect the state authorities rather than safeguarding the people. To a Manipuri, mob justice is more reliable than the laws of the state where people find justice rarely.

Manipur Students’ Association Delhi strongly condemns this coward action of Manipur Police.

We demand the state Government to punish the culprit and to dispense the justice in a proper system so that such incident never happens again.

We also urge the state Government to respect and regard the natural human rights of an individual irrespective of their socio-cultural and religious affiliations.

We stand in solidarity with the Joint Action Committee against the custodial killing of S.M. Manjur Ahmed.

We also endorse the resolutions taken on the public meeting by the concerned JAC held on 1st April with the presence of various students and civil organisations to seek justice for S.M. Manjur Ahmed.

We also appeal to all the Civil Societies and organisations to rise against the injustice meted out on us in this land of AFSPA, NSA and other draconian laws to end this new normal of rights violations.

MSAD
Manipur Students’ Association Delhi