Manipur News

Mail News Service
Imphal, May 19 : In an unprecedented step, for the first time, a team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), North East Cell led by the Chairperson Prof. Shantha Sinha and accompanied by Dr. L. Mishra, Special Adviser (North East Cell) NCPCR; Shri D.R. Kaarthikeyan, former Director, CBI and DG, NHRC; Shri Ajay Kumar, Project Coordinator (RTE) NCPCR; Shri Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Sr. Consultant, NCPCR and Shri Santosh Chakma, Consultant, Asian Centre for Human Rights is visiting Imphal from the 18thto the 20thMay, 2012.
Nearly 100 cases of extrajudicial execution of children have been reported in the last three decades in Maniipur.
This shocking picture came to light after Civil Societies Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur (CSCHR) mentioned in its petition submitted to a team of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), North East Cell. The CSCHR alleged that 92 children have ben executed.
“Ninety-two cases of extrajudicial execution of children have been recorded in Manipur from 1979 to February 6, 2012, the CSCHR said. The petition was supported with documents. 
The team members of the NCPCR are camping in Imphal since Friday. 
The visit was scheduled to investigate into the alleged encounter killings of children in Imphal West District Manipur.
The investigating team of the NCPCR is visiting Manipur in response to a complaint made by the Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE), Manipur regarding the alleged extra judicial execution of Master (L) Ahanthem Amujao 16 years old boy of Sawombung at Khuman Palli, Imphal West by the Imphal West Commandos.
The team conducted a formal hearing at the Hotel Imphal on Friday, 18th May, 2012 and met with the family members and other witnesses of Master (L) Ahanthem Amujao. During the hearing the NCPCR also took up the case of Master Sonkhopao Mate (16) year old boy from Chandel district who was allegedly tortured by Assam Rifles.
Following the hearing, the NCPCR team had a consultation with the NGOs of Manipur including members of the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) of Chandel, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Imphal West and Imphal East to discussed related issues of protection of children in ‘disturbed’ areas or armed conflict situations.
During the NGOs consultation the Chairperson announced that a special North East Cell has been recently opened at the NCPCR.
The NGOs Consultation was facilitated by the Civil Societies Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR).CSCHR also submitted a petition regarding 92 documented cases of extrajudicial executions of children in Manipur from 1979 till 6th Feb. 2012 with a prayer to the Commission to take up urgent steps regarding these cases for the end of justice.
The issues discussed impunity in the context of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, various lapses and lacunae in the procedures to be taken up by the Government in cases of culpable homicide involving children in accordance to the guidelines of the Supreme Court, the National Human Rights Commission and the Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC); the need to assert the supremacy of The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 (amended 2006) over AFSPA with regard to children in conflict with the law and involved in the armed conflict in Manipur and other parts of India; and the need to develop a “Standard Operating Procedure” to be adopted by NCPCR to deal with complaints relating to “encounter deaths” of children.
The team will meet Deputy Commissioners & Superintendent of Police of Chandel, Tamenglong and Imphal West, Home Secretary, Chief Secretary, Home Minister and the Chief Minister of the State on the 19th May, 2012 and will leave on the 20th May, 2012 after a Press Conference at the Hotel Classic at 10:00 A.M.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/100-extrajudicial-killings-reported-during-last-three-decades/

Mail News Service
Imphal, May 19 : To protest the death of Richard Loitam and O. Laaba and the attitude of Political party which remain as a silent spectator in connection with the death of students, a large students damaged BJP office and stormed other political parties offices today.
The protesters attacked BJP office and damaged doors, windows and signboard and locked the main gate. The students then stormed the office of congress office however the security personnel posted there blocked the gate.
The security personnel beat up students who tried to lock main gate. The angry protesters then pushed barricade used in road dividing. The students again closed the main gate of MPP office and proceeded towards CPI office situated at Rupmahal tank where police rounded up 20 students including students leaders.
After the incident, the general secy. of DESAM, Thoithoi while talking to press said, there is BJP govt. in Karnataka. The BJP, Manipur state unit did not the issue seriously. They didn’t pressurize the issue. The congress govt. also did not pressurize the central govt.
Various agitations will be launched if students are not released on or before tomorrow.
Meanwhile Asian Age reports that , “A day after the long awaited histopathology report of Richard Loitam, who was found dead in his hostel room, was finally handed over to the police, Loitam’s parents refuted the report which said his weak heart was the reason he died.
In one of her posts on a social networking site, Richard’s mother Dr Vidyabali Loitam, says that the histopathology report of Richard was ‘baseless’ and was only ‘covering up facts’. She said: “My son was an active football player and was in good physical condition. Moreover in his school here, he had to go through a medical check-up every six months.
There was no indication of a heart problem so far. How can it suddenly happen?” “We (parents) both are doctors and are fairly knowledgeable in medicine. If our son had shown symptoms of a problem, we would have known about it. The report calls it hereditary, but there is no significant history of heart disease in our family”, she added.
Richard’s parents are now planning to approach the Karnataka and Manipur governments for a CBI probe into the case.
The Union home ministry on Friday asked states to adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against ‘racial profiling and discrimination faced by Indian citizens of Northeastern states’.
In an advisory sent to all states and UTs, the MHA has suggested stringent measures, including action against police officers if they fail to act on a complaint or any information received from a citizen hailing from the Northeast, regarding a cognizable offence.
The move follows deaths of two Northeastern students, Dana Sangma and Richard Loitam in Gurgaon and Bengaluru in April, amid allegations that they fell victim to racial bias.
The MHA has said, “Where a complaint or if any information is received from a citizen hailing from the Northeast, regarding a cognizable offence and no follow-up action is taken, then a serious view should be taken against the police officer concerned and also against the officer-in-charge of the police station.”
It says if the complainant is a member of the Scheduled Tribe, then the provisions of Section 4 of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be invoked. This section prescribes imprisonment between six months to one year for a public servant who is not a member of the SC or ST communities and wilfully neglects his duties under the Act.
Toll-free helplines should be made available, where services of any officer or any operator conversant with English must be provided, since it is possible that the complainants may not be able to communicate in the local languages, says the home ministry.
The letter points to reports that people originating from the North Eastern states are facing discrimination ‘as they are addressed with derogatory adjectives or face discrimination in the form of targeted attacks, assault, molestation and other atrocities’. This has caused considerable anguish and distress in the minds of the people from the North east, it says.
The home ministry says, “Quick action by the police would restore confidence not only of the victim but also of the community and send a clear message to the accused that such behaviour would not be tolerated.” It says when complaints are received from a person belonging to the North-East, particularly from women, the ‘level of sensitivity and response should be of an even higher level’.’
The states have also been asked to arrange outreach programmes , under supervision of DCPs or district SPs , in areas of northeast congregation to meet community leaders of such groups and address their concerns.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/students-attack-political-parties-offices-to-protest-killings-of-richard-laaba/