RPF rejects NHRC report
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 20 2013: Not accepting National human Rights Commission (NHRC) report about State police force, and not Army, responsible for most cases of fake encounter killings, the proscribed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has dismissed the NHRC report as partial intent on making Manipur police commandos the proverbial sacrificial goat.

An RPF statement issued by secretary publicity Roben Khuman contended that under the immunity granted by AFSPA 1958 as well as under the cover of counter- insurgency operations Central as well as State forces have been continuously slaying citizens of manipur.

Listing some of the incidents involving central forces, RPF said on April 26, 1980 CRPF personnel shot dead four people at Langjing followed by outraging modesty of many womenfolk; CRPF men opening machine gun fire and killing 13 innocent civilians and wounding 31 others during a volleyball match at Heirangoithong on March 14, 1984; launch of 'Operation Blue Bird' on July 11, 1987 at Oinam village in Senapati district under the command of Assam Rifles Major General Kuketri during which many were slain, thrashed, abused and houses burned down; the RMC (presently-day RIMS) campus massacre of January 7, 1995 also involving CRPF men of 79 & 119 Bn resulting in the death of seven persons, including medical students, and injured scores; 10 persons shot dead at Tonsen Lamkhai by CRPF on September 3, 1999; the infamous Malom massacre of November 2, 2000 in which troops of 8th Bn Assam Rifles shot dead 11 persons consequently leading to Irom Chanu Sharmila launching campaign against imposition of AFSPA; custodial death of Thangjam Chanu Manorama involving 17 AR troops on July 11, 2004 at Bamon Kampu that provoked Manipuri womenfolk to stage nude protest at the western gate of Kangla four days later.

Pointing out that all these incidents had no involvement of police commandos, RPF also quoting Manipur human rights organisations' report to the UN reminded NHRC that since imposition of AFSPA in Manipur till date a total of 8983 people have been killed by Indian security forces out of which 1528 are victims of fake encounters.

Assam Rifles troops alone are responsible for the death of 419 people, including 10 women and 21 minors during CI operations in between 1979 and 2012, highlighted Roben while noting that the NHRC report lacks comprehensiveness as its findings were based on incidents from late 1990s.Expressing that the NHRC report not elaborating on killings from 1980s seems to be deliberate to project Indian security forces in better light and soldiers with exemplary discipline, he said many families not only suffered loss of near and dear ones to Indian forces but also endured severe form of atrocities and abuse of rights after security forces intensified CI operation from the 1980s by establishing random check posts, restriction movement of the people, arrest on suspicion, involuntary disappearance of arrested persons, rape/molestation of the womenfolk.

Only after central leaders comprehended gravity of the situation and came to realised that Indian security forces have become one of the most hated Government agents, New delhi conceived the plan for formation of Manipur police commandos.

With police commandos eventually turning out to be faithful to their New Delhi masters, Government of India capitalised on the golden opportunity to sustaining its reign in Manipur by conferring more authority and fire power to police commandos, said Roben adding that in continuously trying to please the New Delhi masters and win accolades police commandos could not embrace the fact that those being mercilessly slain are their own blood brothers.

Coming to the NHRC report, the RPF publicity secretary said inspite of 1528 individuals becoming victims of fake encounters at the hand of central security forces the NHRC laying the blame on police commandos tantamount to suggesting that the killings have the patronage of the Government of Manipur.

Opining that police commandos have been empowered with the sole agenda of covering up misdemeanours of central forces, Roben said such a biased report deserves serious introspection and understanding by police commandos.

Moreover, taking into account the latest NHRC report time has come for parents of police commandos to advise and guide their respective wards follow the path of truth rather than shed unnecessary blood-shed.

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