Discovery of human skulls and skeletal remains : FIDAM, CSCHR petition NHRC, demand special probe team
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 10 2015 : Besides filing a petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding the dis-covery of human skulls and skeletons at the premises of the erstwhile Tombisana HS, the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and UN (CSCHR) and Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared Association Manipur (FIDAM) have issued an urgent appeal demanding, amongst others, institution of a 'Special Commission of medico-legal, forensic-archaeological enquiry team ' to probe the matter.

The two bodies have petitioned the NHRC yesterday in the light of the alleged failure of the Govt to issue any formal notification of the Cabinet decision regarding the handing over of the discovery of human skulls and skeletons at the premises of the erstwhile Tombisana HS case to CBI even as the PIL filed at Manipur High Court has been withdrawn following the Cabinet decision to hand over the case to CBI.

Skulls and skeletal remains discovered from erstwhile Tombisana High School campus

Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club today, member of CSCHR, Joy Chingakham said that the Govt fails to inform the CBI or the Govt of India after nine days of adopting the Cabinet decision.

The CSCHR and FIDAM issued an urgent appeal with the recommendation to institute a 'Special Commission of Medico-Legal Forensic-Archeological Inquiry team' comprising legal luminaries, forensic and archeological experts of international repute human rights activists and victim families' representatives to investigate the dis- covery of human skulls and skeletons from the erstwhile Tombisana HS campus.

The two bodies also recommended to prosecute those security personnel confirmed to have involved in enforced disappearances in Manipur.

They further recommended that Govt of India implements the International Convention on Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (CED), which India had already signed on Feb 6, 2007 and as recommended by the Working Group on UPR of the UN Human Rights Council.

The other recommendations included repeal of AFSPA, 1958 in accordance with the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 2007, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, etc, Joy Chingakham said.

Copy of the urgent appeal was sent to the President of India, the Governor, the Chief Minister, Dy CM, Chief Secretary and DGP of Manipur, and a UN body.

Joy also said that the preliminary expert opinion saying that the skulls and skeletal remains could be between 17 and 40 years old has raised suspicion, especially among the families whose loved ones disappeared involuntarily in the hands of security forces, that the skeletal remains might be those of the loved ones who disappeared during the period.

At least 21 cases of enforced disappearances were recorded by rights defenders during the period 1980-2011.As such, there are reasonable grounds that there could be more remains, he said.

Joy further said that since the 17 AR� said to be involved in many human rights violations including the rape and murder of Th Manorama in July 2004 and disappearance of Md Tayab Ali� was stationed at Kangla Fort for decades, Kangla Fort is also believed to have similar mass burial site.

Kangla Fort was also the main interrogation cell of Central para-military forces.