Apunba Lup debunks encounter tales
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 10, 2012: Taking strong exception to the recent spate of killings by security forces in alleged encounters, the Apunba Lup has lambasted the encounter tales.

In a statement, the Apunba Lup noted that the killings of Puni, Bheigo, Anil, Md Abdul, Jiten, David, Jayenta, Sana and many others have shocked the people of Manipur.

Notwithstanding the claims of security forces that all these people were killed in encounters, the family members and the people have come up with many evidences that they were killed in fake encounters.

Some of them were killed just to loot the money they were carrying with them, it alleged.

Now, people have already raised voices of dissent and are readying up to launch protest movements, the Apunba Lup asserted.

It also condemned in the strongest term such alleged incidents of killing people in cold blood by security forces.

The Apunba Lup has been closely watching all these incidents and what the relevant authorities have been doing to penalise the guilty security personnel.

Regardless of whether one is a UG cadre or not, he/she should be given due punishment after a fair trial in a competent court.

But the acts of taking the law into one's own hands and killing people summarily are challenges to humanity.

A picture of a dharna against an alleged fake-encounter

Taking serious note of the acts of taking law into their hands by security personnel, the Supreme Court had issued an order declaring that security personnel indulging in criminal activities should be punished according to law, even to the extent of capital punishment if there is enough evidence against them.

Acting on this Supreme Court order, prosecution proceedings have been initiated against accused security personnel in many other States.

The situation demands the relevant authorities to look into all these criminal activities which are not acceptable to international laws as well as the Indian domestic laws.

It would be in the best interest of all to take up all necessary measures so as to avoid massive people's movement.

The Apunba Lup also noted that after a brief lull following exposure by Tehelka about the July 23 Khwairamband fake encounter in which Ch Sanjit was shot dead in broad daylight, killing by security forces has once again increased to an alarming level.

Already, people of Manipur have been enduring all sorts of human rights violation at the hands of security forces who are operating with the immunity guaranteed by the colonial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, it added.