Rising gender-based crimes concerns UNMM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 14 2023: Expressing serious concern over the rising incidents of death due to shooting, human rights violation and crimes against women in the state, United NGOs Mission-Manipur (UNMM) has demanded the government to take urgent measures and action to address the matter.

In a release, UNMM women coordinator S Monica Chanu urged the government to establish an independent and impartial commission to conduct investigation against the staff who were involved in assessment of the guidelines, procedure, criteria, norms for issuing of gun licence to the people for taking necessary legal action; communicate with the Prime Minister to invite the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women so as to witness the grave situation of human rights violation against women & children, crime committed on women, delay in investigation & other legal procedures for punishing the criminals along with finding out the causes and consequences.

She also urged the government to provide immediate relief and compensation to the victims and their families and ensure proper rehabilitation of the families and survivors until justice is served.

From January 2021 to October 2022, there were reports of recovery of 83 bodies, both identified and unidentified people in Manipur.

Few of the bodies were found in decomposed state or in the form of skeleton.

Many of them were reported missing for some days only for their bodies to be found at different locations.

Almost every week, reports of death of women and people are being reported, Monica pointed out.

UNMM strongly condemn the rise in number of cases of shooting against women such as killing of Ibetombi of Bheigyabati Leikai, Imphal East district in gun firing on December 19, 2022.Similarly, on March 21 and December 23, 2022, and January 5, N Lanthoibi, M Jemi Devi and H Thajamanbi respectively were reported killed and injured in firing incident.

Various other cases of crimes against women have been reported in the state including murders of Th Brinda, Tingbem and her nine-year-old daughter at G Gelbuhg village, a woman from Thoubal by her husband, brother-in-law and his son, gang rape of a girl by four men in IE district, rape of a minor girl by a SPO, rape of a girl by ADC member, etc.

UNMM had submitted an RTI application to the Department of Home and to Manipur.

Right to Information Commission in 2019 seeking detailed list of gun licences issued to people of the state, but was declined the information, Monica lamented.

The proliferation of small arms both legal and illegal has become a serious issue which has caused death of hundreds of people.

The organisation is deeply worried on the operation of such uncontrolled arms in the state, she said and suspected that the legacy of impunity under AFSPA is still the culture of functioning of the security forces in the state.

Monica also appealed to the public to help the survivors of such violence and support the legal proceedings in fighting for justice.

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