National Commission for Protection of Child Rights investigates child encounter killing in Imphal West District

Imphal, 19th May 2012

In an unprecedented step, for the first time, a team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), North East Cell led by the Chairperson Prof. Shantha Sinha and accompanied by Dr. L. Mishra, Special Adviser (North East Cell) NCPCR; Shri D.R. Kaarthikeyan, former Director, CBI and DG, NHRC; Shri Ajay Kumar, Project Coordinator (RTE) NCPCR; Shri Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Sr. Consultant, NCPCR and Shri Santosh Chakma, Consultant, Asian Centre for Human Rights is visiting Imphal from the 18thto the 20thMay, 2012.

The visit was scheduled to investigate into the alleged encounter killings of children in Imphal West District Manipur.

The investigating team of the NCPCR is visiting Manipur in response to a complaint made by the Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE), Manipur regarding the alleged extra judicial execution of Master (L) Ahanthem Amujao 16 years old boy of Sawombung at Khuman Palli, Imphal West by the Imphal West Commandos.

The team conducted a formal hearing at the Hotel Imphal on Friday, 18th May, 2012 and met with the family members and other witnesses of Master (L) Ahanthem Amujao. During the hearing the NCPCR also took up the case of Master Sonkhopao Mate (16) year old boy from Chandel district who was allegedly tortured by Assam Rifles.

Following the hearing, the NCPCR team had a consultation with the NGOs of Manipur including members of the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) of Chandel, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Imphal West and Imphal East to discussed related issues of protection of children in ‘disturbed’ areas or armed conflict situations.

During the NGOs consultation the Chairperson announced that a special North East Cell has been recently opened at the NCPCR.

The NGOs Consultation was facilitated by the Civil Societies Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR).CSCHR also submitted a petition regarding 92 documented cases of extrajudicial executions of children in Manipur from 1979 till 6th Feb. 2012 with a prayer to the Commission to take up urgent steps regarding these cases for the end of justice.

The issues discussed impunity in the context of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, various lapses and lacunae in the procedures to be taken up by the Government in cases of culpable homicide involving children in accordance to the guidelines of the Supreme Court, the National Human Rights Commission and the Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC); the need to assert the supremacy of The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 (amended 2006) over AFSPA with regard to children in conflict with the law and involved in the armed conflict in Manipur and other parts of India; and the need to develop a “Standard Operating Procedure” to be adopted by NCPCR to deal with complaints relating to “encounter deaths” of children.

The team will meet Deputy Commissioners & Superintendent of Police of Chandel, Tamenglong and Imphal West, Home Secretary, Chief Secretary, Home Minister and the Chief Minister of the State on the 19th May, 2012 and will leave on the 20th May, 2012 after a Press Conference at the Hotel Classic at 10:00 A.M.

Dr. Laifungbam Debabrata Roy
Convenor
CORE Centre for Organisation Research & Education
Indigenous Peoples’ Centre for Policy and Human Rights in India’s Eastern Himalayan Territories
NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
1st Floor, Ibotombi Building, Babupara
Imphal 795001, MANIPUR India
Tel/Fax: +91 385 244 13 19
Website: www.coremanipur.org
Email: [email protected]