Human Rights Issues In Manipur And Participation Of Tangkhul Women
- Part 3 -

Maireiwon Ningshen *

Miss Luingamla Muinao attempted rape and murdered Case:

On 24 January 1986 two army officers namely, Capt. Madir Singh and Lt. Sanjeev Dubey tried to rape a village girl called Ms. Luingamla Muinao of Ngainga Village at her residence, and when she resisted, she was shot dead. (NWUM, Senapati, 1998: 17). Against this backdrop, on 25 January 1985 many Tangkhul civil organisations including the TSL and other student unions held a protest rally in the Ukhrul town.

A huge public meeting together with the dead body of Ms. Luingamla was held at Ukhrul Tangkhul Long Ground. In connection to this incident, the TSL again organised one big rally in Imphal on 11 March 1986 which was attended by more than 5000 people irrespective of caste and creed. Many other valley based organisations also supported and joined the TSL in its fight for justice. Those valley based organisations which participated in the protest rally included organisations like the Macha Leima, All Manipur Student Union (AMSU), All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM), Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tangkhul Baptist Long (TBL), Naga Student Federation (NSF), Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Nupilal Marup, Manipur Tribal Human Rights Association, etc.

A meeting was also held after the rally. The meeting resolved to observe 11 March as the 'Unity Day' of the hill and valley People of Manipur. (History Committee TSL, op.cit., 28). The TSL, besides organising the rally, also filed a case on behalf of Lt. Miss Luingamla Muinao against the two Army officers. Miss Alungphy Horam, the then Joint Secy. of the TSL also attended the court martial hearing at Leimakhong Army Headquarter where the case of Late Miss Luingamla was held. Finally, the culprit who fired the fatal shoot was terminated from the service. (NWUM, op.cit., 35.) In this way, the TSL played an important role in fighting for the human rights of the people and their persistent efforts resulted in the due punishment of the culprit involved in the case.

Oinam "Operation Bluebird" case:

As time went by, the TSL started addressing itself not only to the human rights problems of the Ukhrul District but also with that of the other Nagas living outside the District. The action it took up in connection with the Operation Bluebird at Oinam Village of Senapati District, Manipur. It so happened that the Assam Rifles post at Oinam Village was attacked by some cadre of the NSCN (IM) on 9 July 1987 and decamped with a huge amount of arms and ammunitions.

In the name of searching for the looted arms and ammunition, the Assam Rifles let loose a reign of terror in the entire area of Oinam. Having sealed off the area first, it began an extensive combing operation with the code name "Operation Bluebird" on 11 July 1987. The Operation lasted for nearly four months and ended only in October 1987. Within a few days of launching the operation, the Assam Rifles shot dead fifteen persons after subjecting them to inhuman torture. (Kohini B. Moses, http://www.northeastunlimited.com). It covered thirty villages of the Senapati District. (Amnesty International, January 1990).

Many public leaders, political leaders, journalists and student leaders, voiced their concern and sent representations to the government, but no official commission of enquiry was set forth. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police were also wrongly confined, humiliated and prevented from discharging their duty by the Assam Rifles. The Chief Minister was also rendered helpless in protecting the villagers from the atrocities of the Assam Rifles as he was not allowed to enter the sealed village.( Koheni, op.cit.)

The Civil Liberties and Human Rights Organisation (CLAHRO) was the first to file a petition in the Guwahati High Court for the release of the people who have been illegally confined in the village. Against this backdrop, the TSL also launched a protest rally along with other organisations in the Ukhrul District on 4 September 1987. The protest rally was organised in Ukhrul town and was attended by thousands of men and women.

A public meeting was also held and the TSL leader Ms. Ayung K. urged everyone to unite and fight against such kinds of injustice meted out to the innocent civilians of the neighbouring district, i.e. the Senapati District. Soon the TSL became one of the members of the Co-ordinating Committee formed in connection with the Oinam case. (History Committee TSL, op.cit., 35).

As a member of the Co-ordinating Committee, the organisation gave all the necessary help and support to the Manipur Baptist Convention Women's Union (MBCWU) who filed a case against the Assam Rifles. The TSL also gave support to the NPMHR who also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Guwahati High Court on behalf of the people of Oinam Village and its surrounding villages in October 1987. After five years, in 1992 the Guwahati High Court completed the hearing of the NPMHR's petition but has kept the judgement reserved so far. (Souvenir Nagalim -50 Years of Resistance, op.cit., 60).

9 May 1994 firing incident in Ukhrul Town:

On 9 May 1994, at around 5.00 PM suspected NSCN men gunned down two Assam Rifles officers namely Major Sunil Bakshi and Captain Labh Singh belonging to 20 Battalion of Assam Rifles.( History Committee Tangkhul Sahanao Long, op.cit., 49). One Lance Naik was also injured. The incident took place some few yards away from the outpost of Ukhrul town. Following the attack the Assam Rifles fired indiscriminately and shelled about 20.2 inches mortars of high trajectory into the civil residential areas for more than one and half hour. (Memorandum submitted to His Excellency, Lt. Gen. V.K Nayar (Rtd), the then Governor of Manipur, through DC of Ukhrul on 2 June 1994 at the protest rally organized by All Naga Student Association Manipur (ANSAM) at Ukhrul, p.2).

It killed three persons of the population of the town. Those killed in the incident were Mrs. S. Mathotla (46) of Grihang Village, Mr Panghom Shimrah (83) of Ukhrul and Mr K. Sochihan (12) of Marem village (Ibid., 4). Apart from killing the civilians, the 20th Assam Rifles firing left many residential houses, government offices, educational institutions riddled with bullets and shrapnel of mortars.

Even the household properties were smashed and destroyed. From the night of 9 May 1994 till the morning of 10 May 1994 the Assam Rifles went berserk. In connection of this, the TSL organised a protest rally against the high handedness of the Assam Rifles and demanded the removal of AFSPA, 1958. The TSL, together with other student organisations, also brought the tragic episode to the knowledge of various different organisations of the state.

It highlighted the atrocities committed by the Assam Rifles to the civilians in Ukhrul town. Consequently, on 2 June 1994 a mammoth rally was organised in Ukhrul town which was attended by over 20,000 people. (History Committee TSL, op.cit). Those organisations that joined hands with the TSL in the protest included People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), All Manipur Student Union (AMSU), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (TMNL), Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), TKS etc.

A memorandum was submitted by all the organisations to the then Governor of Manipur Lt. Gen. (Retd.) V.K. Nayar demanding the - the National Human Rights Commissions to visit Ukhrul; immediate removal of Security Forces posts located in the middle of the town; ex-gratia amounting to a sum of rupees one lakh each to be paid to the bereaved families; maximum compensation to be paid to the injured persons/ families; recovery of the looted amount of money, articles and properties to the owners; adequate compensation to be paid for the damaged properties; and befitting action against the officers and jawans responsible for the atrocities committed. (Memorandum submitted to Lt.Gen. V.K Nayar, op.cit.,

5). Finally, with more pressure coming from different organisations, the state government filed a case in the Guwahati High Court against the 20th Assam Rifles. (History Committee Tangkhul Shanao Long, op.cit., 49).

To be continued.....