NHRC takes State Govt to task over denial of monetary relief
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 25 2013 : Concluding its three-day long Camping sitting here, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended monetary relief to the tune of Rs 32 lakhs for violation of human rights in six cases of deaths in police/security forces action.

The six cases and amount for payment monetary relief are case no.21/14/4/2011, which is related to death of one woman named Mani Devi due to the firing shot by the jawans of 15th Assam Rifles on April 2, 2011 at Imphal while she was sleeping in her room in her house (Rs 2 lakh); case no.11/14/4/08-09 relating to killing of one Chahotiangbao Abonmei alias Chahotbao by police at Tarung village under Lamphel police station in Imphal East district (Rs 5 lakh); case no.32/14/1/08-09 relating to death of Khagembam Priyokumar and Sorokkaibam Nehru in an alleged encounter on December 4, 2008 by Manipur Police Commandos at Ishok hillock in Bishnupur district (Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the two deceased); case no.20/14/4/2010, which is related to killing of Khumbongmayum Orshonjit in an alleged encounter on March 16, 2010 by Imphal West Police commandos at Taothong Apheibi in Imphal West district (Rs 5 lakh); case no.19/14/15/2012 which is related to killing of one Thangjam Thoithoi alias Anil Kumar in an alleged encounter with the police on January 14, 2012 in Imphal West district (Rs 5 lakh) and case no.31/14/12/07-08, killing of one Mohammad Razzak Khan in an joint operation on September 13, 2007 by Manipur Police Commandos and personel of 32nd Assam Rifles at Leihaokhongmaru under Lilong police station in Thoubal district (Rs 5 lakh) .

The Commission has also issued notices under section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act to the State Government to show cause as to why monetary relief should not be recommended to be paid to the next of kin of the deceased persons in nine cases in which violation of human rights of the victims has been, prima facie, established.

Three cases have been closed on receipt of proof of payment of compensation of Rupees Seventeen lakhs, recommended by the Commission.

Another case has also been closed on compliance of the recommendation of the Commission to the State Government for providing appointment on compassionate grounds to the wife of the deceased, killed in an encounter with the police.

Furthermore, the Commission has asked the State Government to submit reports within four to six weeks in cases where the recommendations of the Commission are reportedly pending for decision of the State Cabinet for a considerable time.

On the conclusion day of the camp sitting today, the Commission had an interaction with the representatives of the non-government organizations, who raised important issues regarding AFSPA; illegal drug trade with involvement of police and security forces; harassment of Human Rights Defenders by police, plight of HIV positive patients, violence against women; child trafficking, restitution, rehabilitation and compensation for the families of victims of extra-judicial killings; monitoring flagship programmes etc.

Apart from pointing out specific instances of human rights violations, the NGOs also made various suggestions to remedy the problems.

After meeting the NGOs, the Commission held discussions with the senior officers of the State Government including the Chief Secretary, DGP, DMs, SPs and other senior civil, police and jail officers on issues like extra judicial killings, PDS, Health and Medical facilities in the State, the Loktak Lake, prison reforms; human rights education at the State level; intimation about deaths in police/judicial custody within 24 hours of occurrence as per guidelines of the NHRC; intimation about death in police encounter within 48 hours as per guidelines of the NHRC; intimation about death in State Government Homes/Juvenile Homes/ Probation Homes; timely submission of the legible copies of the reports by the authorities; delay in submission of the compliance reports; non-registration of FIRs by the police in time.

The Commission also discussed issues raised by NGOs during interaction with the officers.

It may be noted here that on the opening of their three-day visit to Manipur, the Commission team comprising Justice Joseph and Satyabrata Pal, Members, Kanwaljeet Deol, Director General (Investigation), Anil Pradhan, Special Repporteur, A..KParashar, Joint Registrar (Law) and other officers visited Jawahar Lal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences to meet human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on an indefinite fast demanding the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) .

A team of the Commission headed by its Chairperson Justice K..GBalakrishnan and comprising Justice Cyriac Joseph and Satyabrata Pal, Members, Kanwaljeet Deol, Director General (Investigation), Anil Pradhan, Special Rapporteur, A..KParashar, Joint Registrar (Law) and other officers also visited District Hospital, Churachandpur.

The members of the team expressed serious concern over the sorry state of affairs in the hospital.

They were particular disturbed that medicines had not been supplied to the hospital or distributed to patients for a year and a half.

They were also deeply concerned by the fact that essential and costly diagnostic equipment was not functional or could not be used in the absence of technicians.

The delegation of the Commission also visited Loktak Lake to assess the condition of the Lake and the problems of the people living in the surroundings of the Lake.

Ibobi Singh, Project Director of the Lake briefed the delegation on the steps taken by the Government for the development of the Lake.

On the second day of the Camp sitting, the NHRC took up a total number of 46 cases in its day long sitting, four in Full Commission, 22 in Division Bench-II.

These cases include the matters pertaining to Loktak Lake and Churachandpur District Hospital in which the Commission recommended investigation of these matters by the State CBCID.

Senior Civil and police officers including the Chief Secretary and DGP appeared before the Commission.

Besides, a number of family members of the victims of the cases taken up by the Commission appeared and aired their grievances.

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