MHRC's intervention sought for expediting cases of rights violation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 22 2023:
In the wake of the May 3 violence that has plunged Manipur in a deep ethnic turmoil, a bunch of petitions have been filed with the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) seeking the Commission's intervention, order and direction for expediting cases of human rights violation.
The latest petition, filed by a law student and six others, among other things has sought the MHRC to pass order or issue direction to Investigating Officers to record statement of all displaced victims including children and furnish copy of the status of the investigation to each informant as required under the 1999 guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission.
A bench of Justice UB Saha and Member KK Singh heard the petition today.
Besides the plea for direction to the Investigating Officers, the petition also sought an order directing the respondents (Manipur Government) to conduct depart- mental inquiry to probe any lapses or negligence in the prevention of human rights abuses and disciplinary action against officials found guilty.
The petition noted that due to violence, thousands of Meiteis have been displaced from 18 villages in Churachandpur district--Khumujamba Leikai, Thingkanphai, Meitei Christian Leikai, Khuga Tampak Meitei Leikai, Leimram Meitei Leikai, Mata and Lingsiphai, Ngathal, Hmar Veng, Mandov Leikai, Bijang Khunou, Molnon, Yaiphakol Meitei Leikai, Hi Phailian, Saikot Meitei Leikai, Old Bazar and New Bazar.
While many FIRs have been filed by Meitei victims at Bishnupur and Nambol police station, the cases/FIRs have not been transferred to Churachandpur police and investigations have not started as required under the law, said the petition.
While hearing the petition, the Commission mentioned that in the initial stage of the present unrest, it took cognizance of three complaint cases.
While the first case is related to the looting of arms from a gun shop in Churachandpur, the second one was a complaint seeking an inquiry/investigation by the commission into the "nexus of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), Kuki National Army (KNA), Kuki Zo politicians and officials in the present violence/conflict of Manipur which has resulted to violation of human rights" .
While the complainant also sought that the investigation of the FIRs be conducted by police officers not belonging to Meitei or Kuki, it also called for records/particulars of the different FIRs in which many Meitei civilians, and personnel of security forces including BSF, Manipur Police, Commandos, Assam Rifles etc who lost their lives because of shots fired by Kuki militants using sophisticated weapons like American M-16 Rifles, Sniper Rifles, Rocket launchers, AK-47 Rifles etc.
On the petition seeking status report of certain FIRs and their transfer to Churachandpur police, the Commission noted that it can't take cognizance of cases which has already been taken cognizance of by the apex Court.
The Commission then directed the petitioner to serve copy of the present MHRC order along with the complaint petition to Chief Secretary and Commissioner Home as well to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to ascertain and inform the Commission if the FIRs mentioned in the petition are in any way connected with any order of the Supreme Court or overlapping.
If the FIRs are found not overlapping, then the DGP Manipur shall direct the Bishnupur police and Nambol police to transfer the FIR cases to Churachandpur police station and ensure investigations are conducted by non-Kuki, non-Meitei police officers, not below the rank of SP or SDPO level, directed the Commission.
The Commission listed the petition along with other similar matters for further hearing on August 24 .
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