Discovery of human skulls and skeletons : FIDAM demands halt to digging school campus
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2014 : Suspicious that the skulls and skeletons dug out during excavation of Tombisana HS campus might be of those people who disappeared in the hands of the security forces during the period when 'enforced dis-appearance' was endemic in the State, the Families of Invo-luntary Disappeared Asso- ciation, Manipur (FIDAM) has urged the Chief Minister to halt the excavation at the complex and institute a high level commission of enquiry.

On the basis of initial expert opinion that the skulls and skeletons that were dug out might have been buried for 17 to 40 years, Md Baniyamin, general secretary of FIDAM said that this period roughly coincides with the time when the phenomenon of 'enforced disappea- rance' was endemic in Manipur.

Skulls and skeletons discovered from the campus of now shut down Tombisana High School

Speaking to reporters today at Kwakeithel, Md Baniyamin said that the body has submitted a memorandum to the CM demanding immediate halt to excavation at former Tombisana H/S campus and constitute a high level commission of enquiry to be headed by a retired judge.

The probe panel should include experts in various related fields.

FIDAM also demanded systematic excavation inside the premises to collect further evidences.

Several people had involuntarily disappeared during the said period.

Thokchom Loken Singh (1980), M Kaizalal Paite (1994), Kingsutlin Kom (1995), Ng Angpok (1995), NS John (1995), Laishram Bijoykumar (1996), Yum-lembam Sanamacha (1998), Khundrakpam Boyai (1998) and Md Tayab Ali (1999) are among those who disappeared during the said period, according to Md Baniyamin.

The campus was occupied by the BSF, CRPF and Manipur Police for many decades, he said.

Other demands of the body included systematic examination of the dug out skulls and skeletal remains and verifying the same with DNA profiling of families whose 'loved ones' had disappeared during the period.

FIDAM also demanded that criminal proceeding be initiated in case any foul play is detected.

A team of FIDAM who went to the site this morning was shocked to find that normal digging activity was going on at the site, Baniyamin said.

The team was told by RC Chaterjee, an engineer of Simplex Project Ltd who super- vises the excavation, that normal excavation activity was being undertaken as no order to halt the digging was coming from the higher authority.

The official also expressed his inability to halt the digging without orders from the higher authorities.

As such, Md Baniyamin urged the concerned authorities to stop the digging.