Many condemn police excesses, demand action
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 01 2024:
Many condemned the excessive force used by security personnel, particularly the state police against the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who are staying in different relief camps and had protested on Thursday, demanding the government to allow them to return home.
In a press release by its media coordinator Yumkhaibam Surjitkumar Khuman, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) demanded strict action against the security personnel who used excessive force against the camp residents, who were merely exercising their right to stage a democratic protest.
The police personnel not only fired several live rounds and tear gas on the people but also brutally assaulted a media person covering the incident.
The excessive action also traumatised students of various schools nearby.
COCOMI further said that such act of terrorising the displaced persons, who are already suffering immensely, just because they tried to air their grievances to the government leaders, is atrocious.
A people's government will never let the valley residents suppressed for exercising their democratic right and allow the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists to openly burn down Meetei homes and kill civilians, while the central and state forces stand by and watch it all unfold.
It continued that if the central and state forced had used even a little bit of their might and prowess, which they have unleashed on the valley residents, against the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, the conflict might have been resolved within five days.
It then urged the security forces not to act all mighty against the innocent civilians, while cautioning that COCOMI and the people will not remain silent if continue to do so.
Co-Ordinating Committee on Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand also strongly condemned the excessive actions of the state police against IDPs from Moreh on Thursday, which left students of Eastern Ideal School, Akampat and S Chaoba Memorial School, Singjamei Kongba Road traumatised.
The Committee also condemned assault of Impact TV reporter RC Mangang by a police officer, despite the latter repeatedly identifying himself as a media person.
It further demanded strict action against the police personnel involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, DESAM, MSF, KSA, SUK, AIMS & another students' body issued a press release condemning extreme force used by Manipur Police to disperse a protest by Akampat relief camp residents on Thursday, which left young students of Eastern Ideal School, Akampat traumatised.
The student bodies said that the actions indicate extremely poor judgement on the part of the police, and as such, appealed to all concerned not to repeat such senseless acts in the future.
Committee on Human Rights, (COHR) Manipur also strongly condemned the brutal assault of Impact TV reporter RC Mangang by one Manipur Police SI Sh Nikhil Singh in spite of the former showing his identity card as a media/ reporter, and also grabbing and destroying Mangang's mobile phone.
In a release, COHR termed the incident as a huge crime, inhuman degrading treatment and punishment.
It is domestic and international law for warring groups to protect media/civilian and civilian objects, the Committee stated and demanded strict action, while extending support to all protests staged in this regard.
On the other hand, Thoubal and Kakching District Apunba Lup (TAKDAL) condemned excessive use of force by police against residents of relief camp and assault of a media person, while leaving many young students terrified, during the protests on Thursday.
It further criticised the police's partially when responding to rallies or protest in the valley compared to Churachandpur or Moreh.
Despite the government's assurance to protect the integrity of Manipur, no Meetei is able to cross over Pallel to Moreh or into Churachandpur or Kangpokpi.
The claims of peace and integrity are far from the ground reality, it remarked, while cautioning that the government would have no place and the people will no longer be in control, if the dreams of Kuki terrorists are realised.
It then said that TAKDAL will always stand for the students, while urging the government to investigate and initiate strict action against the security personnel involved in Thursday's incidents.
Communist Party of India-Manipur State Council (CPI) also issued a press release condemning the state police's excessive use of force on residents from various relief camps in addition to assaulting a reporter of Impact TC covering Thursday's protests, while leaving many school kids traumatised.
Meanwhile, Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) Manipur condemned the police's excessive use of force on IDPs, terming it as a cowardly act.
It further condemned the physical assault of Impact TV report RC Mangang by an SI, and demanded suspension of all the police personnel who disregarded the safety and wellbeing of the students in nearby schools.
It also questioned whether the law of the land is applicable only in the valley, while the hill areas districts are out of bounds of the law.
Comment
