Imphal, December 28 2009: Former journalist and Member of Manipur Human Rights Commission, Yambem Laba has said that setting up of a Society for Torture Victims is needed to face the various incidents of torture by the government forces and the rebels, and also to cope with the ever rising number of torture victims in Manipur.

He was speaking at a function held today at the hall of Manipur Dramatic Union, Yaiskul here to honour the victims of torture and organised violence under the aegis of Wide Angle, People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Banaras and Re-Habilitation and Research Centre for Victims of Toture (RCT), Denmark.

Yambem Laba said, violence occurs everywhere in the world, but the kind of violence that occurs in Manipur is complicated.

The government declares that "killing is necessary".

The insurgents also lob bombs if money is not paid.

He said, it is important to expose the tortures meted out by the government forces and also the rebels.

In these circumstances, it has become necessary to set up a Society for Torture Victims for the unity of the victims and also to prevent torture.

Laba further said that if police or army or central paramilitary forces arrest a persons without any rhyme or reason, and without following necessary procedures, case must be registered with the police station concerned.

It has many uses.

He also opined that depriving rights of an uneducated man is easy but is difficult with an educated man.

Therefore, education is very important, he said.

Lenin Raghubansi, who shared the Gwangzu Human Rights Award with Irom Chanu Sharmila, presided over the function.

He expressed profound sadness on reliasing that mainland India has been continously committing acts of torture on the people of the North East, specially Manipur since 1949 .

He said, in mainland India also, the Dalits are being looked down upon, ill-treated and discriminated by the upper castes and communities.

Other human rights activists and leaders of various organisations spoke at the function.

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