MHRC urges NHRC for action on Jiribam incident
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 22 2024: Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has hied a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with regard to the recent violence and killings of civilians including women and children in Manipur.

In a missive to NHRC acting chairperson Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, MHRC member Kangjam Khagendra Singh mentioned that ever since the violence broke out on May 3 last year, there has been no justice for large scale violation amounting to grave crimes, both under national and international human rights law including humanitarian law, committed by armed miscreants and non state actors.

The MHRC has registered as many as 71 cases relating to communal violence and disposed of 64 cases including those transferred by NHRC, he informed In the past few days, eight innocent persons including a '10-month' old baby were killed in Jiribam district of Manipur and such killings have been openly justified even by elected representative and so-called civil society leaders/organisations, the Commission conveyed.

It may be mentioned that the term of appointment of Justice UB Saha, chairperson of MHRC ended on August 24 and therefore, the incumbent lone member could not take up any case including those pending cases, due to vacancy in the office of the chairperson of the state Commission.

This is despite receiving a written complaint in connection with the killing of six individuals including a 10-month old child and MHRC has been informed that FIR No.31(11)2024 under Sections 140(3)/313/3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and 25(1-C) Arms Act has been registered at Borobekra PS in Jiribam district of Manipur against some "unknown armed militants".

However, violence continues to persist in Manipur despite deployment of adequate numbers of paramilitary and armed forces in addition to Manipur Police, elaborated the letter.

It also referred to a woman killed in a night attack by suspected insurgents in Jiribam, with the victim bearing eight wounds, included broken bones and "burnt and separated" skull.

.The body was burnt 99 per cent.

Along with informing that two civilians were also killed after suspected militants torched shops in Jakuradhor Karong area in Jiribam and six people reported missing, Khagendra expressed that inability of the Commission to register cases as mandated under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 may amount to denial of justice to the victims, giving false hope to affected people.

As such, he urged for deputation of an NHRC team to Manipur to ensure protection of human rights of the citizens so they do hot lose trust and hope in NHRC & MHRC.

Comment