Brutal crackdown on students HC issues notices on Delhi, Imphal
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 06 2023:
A Division Bench of the High Court of Manipur today issued notice to Union of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Manipur Chief Secretary, Security Advisor, DGP Manipur Police, Imphal West SP and Colonel of 16 Jat Regiment returnable within three week in connection with a Public Interest Litigation filed by Retired Session Judge A Noutuneshwari against the use of disproportionate/excessive force, atrocities and brutal crackdown on students.
The PIL was listed as item number 1 today before the Court of Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma.
The petitioner's counsel Senior Advocate M Hemchandra submitted that the PIL has been filed against use of disproportionate/excessive force, atrocities and brutal crackdown on students.
The petitioner counsel further submitted that one of the heart-wrenching incidents of the ongoing violence is the kidnapping of two students of Meitei community by armed Kuki militants (KNA/ KNO) and members of ITLF on July 6 .
Since then their whereabouts, whether they were surviving or not was not known till the photos of their murder went viral on September 25 .
After knowing the brutal murder of the two students; Phijam Hemanjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17), large number of students came out on the streets protesting peacefully and demanding justice on September 26 in their uniforms but the State and Central armed force recklessly used excessive force against the students in the form of lathi charge, firing of tear gas shells, mock bombs, live rounds and pellet guns leading to serious injuries to many innocent students.
It is also evident from reports, videos and photos that the military and paramilitary forces hunted and thrashed individuals after the dispersal of crowds by forcefully entering into private houses/ premises and even fired tear gas shells directly into private premises, the counsel said.
The petitioner further submitted that it is a right of students as well as all citizens of India to protest for justice by way of peaceful rally.
On that day, the students without any prior plan unanimously came out from their respective schools on the streets demanding justice.
However, without following any procedure laid down by the law and the guidelines settled by various commissions, the armed forces directly attacked the students, the counsel pointed out.
The petitioner's counsel prayed for restraining the respondents from using any excessive force upon students and also to give directions to the Union of India represented by Secretary/Commissioner, Ministry of Defence, Secretary/Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs and the State of Manipur represented by Chief Secretary to initiate a judicial enquiry into the brutal action of the armed forces (remaining respondents) against innocent students.
The petitioner also prayed for other reliefs.
The Court, after hearing the submission of the petitioner's counsel, issued notice to all the respondents returnable within three weeks.
The Court further directed the Chief Secretary to submit a report within one week as to what action has been taken for providing immediate relief in the case of injured students and other persons due to the alleged crackdown by the security personnel, and listed the matter for further hearing on October 19 .
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