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EEVFAM and HRA strongly condemn the denial of prosecution sanction of some police

By: Admin on 3/13/2023 10:47:00 AM / comment : 0 , , ,

Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) and Human Rights Alert (HRA) strongly condemn the denial of prosecution sanction of some police personnel while granting prosecution sanction for some other police personnel involved in the same extrajudicial killing. 


On 29.08.1998 Major Shaiza and four others were killed at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, Imphal West District in broad day light. Following the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India CBI/SIT investigated the case and submitted charge-sheet against accused police personnel. Out of the accused persons four accused namely, Khondongbam Inaobi Singh, Thangkhongam Lungdim, Md. Akhtar Hussain and Thokchom Krishnatombi Singh were already granted prosecution sanction by the state government in the same incident. Subsequently, CBI gave an observation the four accused persons are hiding and created false story to screen their team members from the offence committed by them, which is also an offence  under section  201  IPC. On further investigation CBI filed supplementary chargesheet against four Manipur personnel of the then Rapid Action Police Force / CDO, Imphal West for the offence punishable under section 302, 307, 201 and 34 IPC. They are namely: 

(1)Mr. Nongmaithem Rameshwor Singh (A-6), 

(2)Baremron Khamjai (A-8), 

(3)Khundrakpam Ranjeet Singh (A-9) and 

(4)Leitanthem Sharat Singh (A-10) 

However the Government of Manipur denied prosecution sanction against the four accused vide letter no. 2/8(5)/2018-H(CBI) (EJK) 25 dated 05.12.2022 by Mr. Rehanuddin Choudhury, Joint Secretary (Home) Government of Manipur.

In a democracy where there is rule of law the government is duty bound to ensure that no perpetrators of the crime are left scot-free and they are to be punished as per the law of the land. Such acts of  the Government of Manipur to denied prosecution sanction to a group of perpetrators of crime while giving prosecution sanction to another group involved in the same incident is down right arbitrary and discriminatory. EEVFAM and HRA humbly appeal to the Government that prosecution sanction be granted to all the accused against whom triable evidence have been found by the CBI/SIT so that court can conduct a fair trial to determine if they are acquitted or convicted as per the law.  

EEVFAM and HRA warmly welcome the judgement of the Session Judge Imphal West

By: Admin on 7/05/2022 08:43:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) and Human Rights Alert (HRA) warmly welcome the judgement of the Session Judge (Imphal West) Manipur dated 4 July 2022, upholding the status of EEVFAM as a “Victim”. The relevant portion of the judgment is reproduced here in under:  

44. It is admitted by all parties that EEVFAM is an association of victims  families whose father, husband, son or brother have been killed in allegedly fake encounters at the hand of State as well as Central security forces. In other words, each of the members of EEVFAM falls within the inclusive meaning of the term ‘victim’ as defined under Section 2(wa) CrPC. The next issue to be decided is whether EEVFAM, an association of victims, falls within the ambit of Section 2(wa) CrPC. 

45. To determine this point, it will be pertinent to examine the object of establishing EEVFAM. As earlier discussed, EEVFAM is a registered Trust constituted by female victims of fake encounters in Manipur for the welfare of its members and specially to seek justice individually and collectively in connection with extra-judicial executions. In order to achieve this goal, it filed writ petition before Hon’ble Supreme Court and as a result CBI was directed to investigate the cases by registering fresh FIRs. Present case is one of such cases. Hence, EEVFAM is essentially involved in all fake encounter cases on behalf of its members. This Court does not find any merit in the submission of UOI as well as CBI that EEVFAM is a third party NGO having no locus in this case. … EEVFAM is an informant (as per finding on point No. I) and also an association of victims. Taking the cue from the expansive definition of ‘victim’ as propounded in the recent cases of Mallikarjun Kodagi and Jagjeet Singh (Lakhimpur Kheri), it is held that EEVFAM as an association of victims will fall within the ambit of ‘victim’ as defined under Section 2(wa) CrPC.

The judgement is pronounced following a revision petition filed by the Union of India, Ministry of Defence, Government of India challenging the order of the  Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West seeking a reference for clarification and guidance of  the High Court of Manipur on ten seminal questions pertaining to the issue of prosecution sanction. The question are reproduced herewith:

1)  Whether the Ministry of Defence, Gol can deny the grant of prosecution sanction against the accused persons (who are defence personnel) despite the fact the CBI found a strong prima facie material evidence for commission of serious offences punishable under Section 302/342/201 read with Section 34 IPC by the accused persons or not? 

2) Whether, at this stage, the Ministry of Defence, Gol is empowered to project a fact situation contrary to the prima facie findings of the CBI (which is the investigating agency specially entrusted by the Hon’ble Apex Court in this regard) or not? In other words, can Ministry of Defence, Gol at this stage, project a fact situation thereby indicating that the prima facie findings of CBI against the accused persons are all wrong and that the victim namely Pheiroijam Sanajit was killed by the accused persons in an ambush during the course of official duty in lawful exercise of the powers conferred by law or not? Can the Ministry of Defence. Gol take the role of investigating agency in the present case at the present stage of the case?

3) Whether the detailed and reasoned order dated 2 nd December, 2019 passed by the Ministry of Defence, Gol, asserting that the victim namely Pheiroijam Sanajit was killed by the accused persons in an ambush during the course of official duty in lawful exercise of the powers conferred by law, is legally tenable or not?

4) Whether the benefit/protection of Section 6 of AFSPA can be extended in all given situations including blatant abuse or misuse of official position by defence personnel or not 9 Will a defence personnel get the protection of Section 6 of AFSPA even in such a given situation, for instance, where he (defence Personnel) keeps on firing/killing all passersby without any reason while he (defence personnel) is on patrolling/during official duty or not? 

5) Whether the act of killing the victim Pheiroijam Sanajit by the accused persons be considered as act done during the course of official duty in lawful exercise the powers conferred by law in the light of the prima facie findings of the CBI or not? 

6) Whether the accused persons be given protection under Section 6 of AFSPA even in cases where re-investigation was done by the CBI on the specific instruction/direction of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India?

7) Whether prosecution sanction is required, as per law, in case of the Accused No. 1 namely Girish Nair, the then Major, 19 Rajput (Bikaner) who is now retired from service or not?

8) Whether the victim’s family/EEVFAM has a right to file protest petition in the given fact situation of denial of prosecution sanction by the Ministry of Defence, Gol or not 

9) It is revealed that the then District & Session, Manipur East submitted the Judicial Enquiry Report (JER), dated 31.07.2010 to the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court (Imphal Bench) in connection with killing of the present victim P. Sanajit by the accused persons and the Hon’ble High Court (then Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench) on finding material substance against the accused persons passed an order dated 29:07.2011 thereby awarded a sum of Rs. 5 lakh as compensation to the wife of deceased P. Sanajit. Now the question is “Will the proceeding of the present case remain stagnant or futile exercise/empty formality even after aforesaid finding of Judicial Enquiry and subsequent award by the Hon’ble High Court on the ground of denial of prosecution sanction against the accused persons?

10) Whether this Court will have the power to take cognizance of the present case even in the face of denial of prosecution sanction by the competent authority or not?”

EEVFAM and HRA heartily thank Advocate Okram Kiranjit and Advocate Okram Nutankumar for their able representation of the cause of the victims, pro bono.

Click here to Download original Press Release

Statement of the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR) on the Arrest of Teesta Setalvad

By: Admin on 6/27/2022 09:09:00 AM / comment : 0 ,


The Working Group of Human Rights in India and the United Nations (WGHR) condemns the arrest and incarceration of one of our members Teesta Setalvad, the Secretary of Citizens for Peace and Justice (CJP). We believe that this illegitimate action of the Gujarat Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) arose from a reference contained in Supreme Court judgement in Zakia Ahsan Jafri Vs. State of Gujarat (SLP Crl. No. 7899-90/2015), decided on 24.06.2022. Teesta was detained by the ATS just a day after the Supreme Court verdict was pronounced. The State machinery has leveled charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery and giving or fabricating false evidence among other IPC sections. Two former police officers, R.B. Sreekumar and Sanjiv Bhatt have been arrested in connection with the same case. 

Teesta Setalvad has been fighting tirelessly for justice for victims of communal violence in India. She is well-known and respected as a courageous champion of the rights of the most vulnerable. WGHR is of the firm belief that Teesta’s arrest amounts to retaliation and reprisals for seeking accountability from all, including those in positions of power, and for standing with the victims of the attack, including Ehsan Jafri’s wife, Zakie Jafri. Ehsan Jafri was killed in one of many incidents of communal violence that occurred during 2002 in Gujarat. We are deeply concerned by the arrest of Teesta Setalvad as it reflects an aggressive abuse of power and law by the State machinery, in grave breach of the rights and freedoms guaranteed to citizens under the Indian Constitution. This turn of events has also raised questions about the Government's commitments to human rights and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), not just domestically but also at the global level.

The 1999 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders recognises the right of everyone to: “individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels.” It recognises the right to “complain about the policies and actions of individual officials and governmental bodies with regard to violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, by petition or other appropriate means, to competent domestic judicial, administrative or legislative authorities or any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the State, which should render their decision on the complaint without undue delay;” ((A/RES/53/144), adopted 8 March, 1999). 

The UN Declaration on Women Human Rights Defenders echoes the basic principles laid out in 1999 UN Declaration on HRDs and reiterates that member States need to ensure that the promotion and protection of human rights is not criminalised or met with limitations and that Women Human Rights Defenders are not prevented from enjoying universal human rights owing to their work ((A/RES/68/181) adopted 30 January 2014). India has obligations under the international human rights instruments that it has ratified. India will soon have to appear before the Human Rights Committee for the review of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the rights of human rights defenders. In its list of issues sent to the Government in 2019, the Committee raises the following issues: 

“Harassment, intimidation, smear campaigns and violent attacks against human rights defenders, activists and journalists and their family members, and travel bans to prevent engagement with the United Nations and other international bodies and retaliation for such engagement”. (CCPR/C/IND/QPR/4, 22 August 2019).

During India’s past two Universal Periodic Reviews (UPR), UN member states have called on the government to enact a law for the protection of Human Rights Defenders, and implement the recommendations made by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, in 2011 while in India on a country visit. These recommendations have also been echoed by the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christophe Heyns, in 2012 during his country visit to India (SR on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, A/HRC/23/47/Add.1, 26 April 2013). 

In her report on India, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders noted: 

“The highest authorities at the central and state level should publicly acknowledge the importance and legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders. Special attention must be paid to defenders working on the rights of marginalised groups, including Dalits and Adivasis, defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights; defenders affected by security legislations and militarisation; Right to Information activists; journalists; and women defenders and defenders working on women and child rights.” (SR on HRDs, A/HRC/19/55/Add.1, 6 February 2012)  

As India is to appear before the UN Human Rights Council for its fourth review under the UN's Universal Periodic Review in November 2022, the Government will be required to respond to the comments and recommendations from UN member states on the issue of Human Rights Defenders.

WGHR calls for the immediate release of its member Teesta Setalvad. It also calls for the release of R.B. Sreekumar, and Sanjiv Bhatt. The systematic targeting of human rights defenders by the Indian state must stop. Reprisals against defenders and civil society organisations conducting legitimate human rights work are completely unacceptable and incompatible in a constitutional democracy and in breach of India’s international law obligations. 

Miscreants plotting to assassinate cm n biren: bjym

By: Admin on 5/28/2022 08:09:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


The BJYM (Bharatiya Yuva Morcha) Manipur Pradesh has taken serious note of the reported plot to assassinate Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh by some miscreants. BJYM in a statement on Saturday said all individuals involved in the plan should clarify the matter with one week's time or else strict action will be initiated against them. It said the people behind the plot own a WhatsApp group through which they have been scheming to kill CM Biren. 

34 rights groups demand independent investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

By: Admin on 5/26/2022 07:31:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


We, the undersigned organisations, call for an immediate, thorough, and independent investigation into the killing of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in an attack in the West Bank on May 11 that also left another journalist wounded. We demand that the government of Israel and all other states fulfil their responsibility to ensure that crimes against journalists are fully investigated and prosecuted.

The killing of Abu Akleh, one of Palestine’s most widely respected journalists who had reported from the West Bank for decades, has shocked many in the region and around the world. According to Al Jazeera, Abu Akleh and three other journalists came under fire from Israeli soldiers while reporting on an Israeli military raid of a refugee camp in the city of Jenin on the West Bank. The reporters were wearing vests and helmets, clearly marked as “press.” Abu Akleh was shot in the face and Al Jazeera producer Ali Al-Samoudi was shot in the back. Al-Samoudi was treated for gunshot wounds and released from the hospital.

 

Eyewitness accounts, video documentation and media reports indicating that these journalists may have been deliberately targeted by Israeli soldiers have made this case all the more alarming. An analysis by independent investigative teams with Bellingcat concluded that the gunfire came from Israeli soldiers and that the shots seem to have been “both aimed and deliberate.”

 

We call attention to this latest case as one of a wider pattern of violence against journalists and media workers in Palestine. At least 23 journalists in Palestine have been killed since 2002, according to UNESCO data, and hundreds have been injured by or targeted with violence.


In May 2021, Israeli forces bombed the media offices of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera in Gaza Strip. That same month, an Israeli airstrike killed Voice of Al-Aqsa reporter Yousef Abu Hussein in his home. In 2018, Palestinian journalists Yaser Murtaja and Ahmed Abu Hussein were also killed while covering the Gaza border protests. Advocacy groups, including the International Federation of Journalists, have cited these cases in a recent submission to the International Criminal Court on the “systematic targeting of journalists” in the occupied Palestinian territory.

 

The duty to investigate: Ending impunity for crimes against journalists

States have a duty to investigate attacks on journalists promptly, thoroughly, and independently, and to prosecute those responsible. This obligation is well established in international and regional human rights instruments, as well as in numerous UN protocols and resolutions, requiring states to provide effective remedy for human rights abuses.

 

Israel is among the many states around the world that are failing to meet this obligation. A vast majority of murders of journalists go unresolved, which has fueled a culture of rampant impunity for violence and crimes against the press on a global level.


The obligation to investigate crimes against journalists does not disappear in a conflict zone. On the contrary, authorities are legally bound under international law and international humanitarian law to ensure the safety of journalists and media workers in situations of conflict. Moreover, a deliberate attack on a journalist during a situation of armed conflict constitutes a war crime.


The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh represents a particularly egregious attack on the press, not least because of credible reports that Abu Akleh and other journalists were intentionally targeted by Israeli forces, but also in light of growing concerns over impunity for crimes against journalists and other grave human rights abuses by Israel in the occupied Palestine territory. The Israeli government’s recent announcement that it will not investigate this killing only adds to these concerns.

 

We, the undersigned organisations, demand concrete action by states and other duty bearers, including international governmental organisations (IGOs) with a specific mandate in this area, to fulfil their duty to protect the safety of journalists and to ensure that attacks against the press are not carried out with impunity. 

We call for:

 

• The government of Israel to uphold its international obligations to conduct a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and to prosecute those responsible. This investigation must include the full involvement of independent international experts or observers and must follow UN protocols for conducting investigations into human rights abuses.


• In parallel, an international task force to investigate this attack and to ensure credibility and impartiality of procedures and outcomes. Ideally, such a task force would be led by UN special rapporteurs with mandates that include oversight over issues related to the safety of journalists or human rights abuses. This follows the precedent set by the investigation into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi initiated by Dr. Agnes Callamard, former UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in 2019. This investigation must include the full involvement of independent international experts, as well as participation and input by journalists and civil society.

 

• In the absence of an independent and impartial investigation by the government of Israel, the International Criminal Court (ICC) to conduct an investigation into the circumstances of Abu Akleh’s killing and the attack on Abu Akleh and her colleagues to determine if this incident amounts to a war crime under the Rome Statute of the ICC.

 

• Governments, particularly allies of Israel, to hold Israel accountable to its international obligations to protect the safety of the press and for ending impunity for crimes against journalists in Palestine. Governments must also urge Israel to fully cooperate with any international inquiries into this crime as well as with other investigations into human rights abuses by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territories.

 

• Governments to take clear measures to end impunity for crimes against journalists at the global and local levels, including through multilateral institutions and coalitions. This includes prioritising support for the creation of a standing, international multi-stakeholder task force to investigate threats and crimes against journalists, involving the participation of UN special rapporteurs, civil society, media and journalists worldwide.

 

Signatories:

Article 19

Association for International Broadcasting

7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media

Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC)

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI)

Cambodian Center for Human Rights

Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP-Liberia)

Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia (CIJ)

Child Rights International Network (CRIN)

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI)

Globe International Center

Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)

I’lam Media Centre

Independent Journalism Center Moldova (IJC)

Index on Censorship

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

Maharat Foundation – Lebanon

Media Action Nepal

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Media Watch Bangladesh

Mediacentar Sarajevo

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

PEN Canada

PEN International

PEN Norway

Public Media Alliance

SEENPM

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)

Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression- SCM

World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)

World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)

7th Manipur Conference of AMDWA Concluded. Government should arrange security for women in workplaces - Mariam Dhawale.

By: Admin on 5/15/2022 08:43:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


The 7th Manipur Conference of the All Manipur Democratic Women's Association (AMDWA) , an affiliated unit of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) was held on 14 May 2022 at Manipur Dramatic Union Hall, Imphal. The venue was named as L Tarunibala and RK Danita Village  the departed leaders of the Association .

The conference began with the flag hoisting by veteran women's activist M Randhoni Devi. The flag hoisting was followed by floral tribute to the martyrs.

Prof. Malini Bhattacharjee ( former MP and and member of National Women Commission), President of AIDWA, addressing the inaugural session said that the women folks of this country particularly of this state Manipur should be vigilant against the onslaught of the RSS backed BJP led Central and State governments. The women are the victims of patriarchal system, that's why we demand equality. Now democracy is undermined in the country because of the faulty electoral system, we demand proportional representation system with partial list. She further said that we, the women of this country, should defend secularism and our constitutional rights.

Asstt. Prof. Koijam Shantibala Devi of Manipuri Department of Manipur University loudly mentioned the name of three revolutionary women of Manipur viz. Maharaj Kumari Binodini, Kumari Thoibi Devi and Pramodini Devi.

Mariam Dhawale , General Secretary of AIDWA, addressing the delegates session said that Manipuri women are in the forefront of fighting injustices . She further expressing her support to the women of Manipur said that AMDWA, as an affiliated unit of AIDWA should lead the women of the state for Uetterment and Upliftment of the women of the state.

The conference adopted an eight pages printed report placed by Ayekpam Ashabala Devi and other resolutions were adopted including 33% reservation for women in parliament and legislative assemblies, against price hike, security for women in workplaces, free and compulsory education, MGNREGA, Violence against women, AFSPA etc.

The conference elected a 17 members state committee and in turn the committee re-elected Ch Sundari, Asem Binodini, Ayekpam Ashabala Devi, Huiningsumbam Ranjita, and Yumnam Chandrabali Leima as President, Vice President, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer respectively .

Ayekpam Ashabala Devi

Secretary

All Manipur Democratic Women's Association

Paona Bazar, Imphal.


The conference concluded with revolutionary slogans.

Human rights organization NCHRO reached Karauli after the violence, factual investigation report will be released soon

By: Admin on 4/15/2022 03:18:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


The manner in which violence has taken place in Karauli, if the local administration had wanted, it could have prevented such a big incident from happening. Due to the failure of the administration and the conspiracy of some organizations, this situation has come about in Karauli.These preliminary facts have come before the fact-finding team in the investigation conducted by the human rights organization NCHRO.

The state general secretary of the organization, Shabbeer Aazaad, issued a press statement and said that on the instructions of state president TC Rahul, the investigation team visited the violence-hit Karauli. The investigation team met the aggrieved parties and gathered information and facts related to the violence. Along with this, the investigation team also talked to the SP of Karauli and many other people of the city. The facts that have come before the fact-finding team primarily point to the fact that the DJ was played in the saffron rally without permission and provocative songs were played in that DJ. And when the rally reached in front of the mosque, provocative slogans were raised, which resulted in violence. Had the local administration wanted, the incident would not have taken such a dangerous form. 

The instructions of the DGP of the state were not followed completely. If the local administration had wanted, it could have prevented the violence at that time by making proper arrangements. As a result, the enemy forces of peace got the opportunity to hatch a communal conspiracy. He said that the organization will soon release its detailed report and this report will be sent to the Chief Justice of the country, Home Secretary, Minority Commission, Rajasthan Chief Minister’s Office and National and State Human Rights Commission. The investigation team included National Secretary Advocate Ansar Indori, Vice President of Delhi State Working Committee Advocate Ashutosh Mishra, Member Shoaib Ahmed, Journalist Rukhsar Ahmed and Social Activist Rukhsar.

NCHRO wrote a letter to Police Commissioner of Delhi against hate speech given in Burari

By: Admin on 4/07/2022 12:51:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


On April 3, 2022, a Hindu Mahapanchayat was held at Burari, New Delhi, where open calls for taking up arms were given. At least five journalists were allegedly assaulted in the process of covering the event. In August 2021, too, there was a similar event after which the organizers of the current event, Preet Singh and Pinky Chaudhary, were arrested for hate speech.

Yati Narsinghanand and Suresh Chavankhe, who were previously in the news for giving a call to arms in ‘protection’ of the Hindu religion, were also present at this event. There was a literal call for genocide against Muslims.

Yati Narisnghanand can be heard in a video of the event saying “If a Muslim becomes the prime minister of India, in the next 20 years, 50% of all of you will change your religion…40% of Hindus will be murdered. Ten percent of Hindus will give their sisters and daughters to Muslims, will live in refugee camps or abroad”. He was arrested previously for the Haridwar assembly and then granted bail, on the condition that he wouldn’t speeches disrupting communal harmony.

Against this incident, human rights organisation the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO) wrote a letter to Police Commissioner of Delhi, urging them to take action against the perpetrators.

The letter was submitted on April 06, 2022 by Adv. Ashutosh Kumar Mishra, the Vice President of the Delhi chapter of NCHRO.

We have urged the authorities to take the case seriously and take prompt action.
 
Sincerely,
 Nihaal Siddique, 
Treasurer,
Delhi Chapter, NCHRO

An Act like AFSPA has no place in a democracy: NCHRO

By: Admin on 4/01/2022 10:04:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will be removed from several districts across Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.

Last year in December, six civilians were killed in Nagaland’s Mon district in what was later claimed to be a botched operation by security personnel. This incident had reignited demands for repealing AFSPA in Nagaland as well as other North East states of India.

AFSPA, with the undue powers that it grants to state personnel to arrest people without warrant, initiate searches without any basis, etc., is tailor-made for abuse. It is no wonder that the states where AFSPA has been in place has seen countless human rights violations and abuses.

The Mon district of Nagaland, where the incident last December had occurred, is still designated as a “disturbed” area and AFSPA is therefore still in place there along with many other districts.

While the announcement of AFSPA’s removal from several districts in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur is welcomed, it is also a reminder that the Act is still in place in many other districts, meaning that those areas are still going to see human rights abuses and excesses by the security forces.

Just a day after the said announcement, the Centre also extended the Act in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh including Tirap, Changlang, and Longding from April 1 to September 30.

The rampant human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir, too, that have been happening since decades as a result of AFSPA are known worldwide.

Human rights organisation the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO) demands that the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) be removed from all the areas where it is in place in India. An Act like AFSPA has no place in a democracy. Under various flimsy excuses, the government has kept it in place to justify the killings and forced disappearances of innocents in these areas.

AFSPA is antithetical to democracy, and hence it should be repealed with immediate effect. We urge every other progressive organisation and civil society to come forward in demanding an end to this draconian Act, and make a step in the right direction in safeguarding human rights in India.
 
Sincerely,
 Adv. Ansar Indori ,
National Secretary,
NCHRO

Women could play an important role in Uripok AC: RO Khamrang

By: Admin on 2/14/2022 08:11:00 AM / comment : 0 ,


IMPHAL (DIPR): Women voters outnumber men in 10-Uripok Assembly Constituency, said Returning Officer Nimmi Azingwungshi Khamrang adding that women could play an important role in the upcoming February 28 poll in the constituency.

She appealed to women voters to come forward and ensure free, fair and peaceful voting in the constituency to strengthen the festival of democracy.

Despite being an urban constituency, voter turnout in Uripok AC, in the past elections, have been unsatisfactory, she stated appealing to electors, particularly the women electors, to come out in huge numbers to exercise their voting rights. She said this time the voter turnout could be higher considering the increasing trend of women’s participation in the electoral process. Voter turnout in Uripok AC in the 2017 Assembly election was 83.93 percent. 

RO Khamrang said 10-Uripok has 25,583 electors of which 13,713 are female and 11,865 are male. There are five Transgenders and three 100+ years old electors in the constituency. She said there are 426 numbers of 80+ years old electors and 206 PwD electors in the constituency. Altogether 229 electors including 199 Absentee Voters in the category of Senior Citizens (AVSC) and 30 Absentee Voters in the category of PwDs (AVPD) will exercise their franchise through Postal Ballot (12D) for Absentee Voters.

She further highlighted that two polling stations in the Constituency, 10/20-Ibotonsana Girls Higher Secondary School (Northern Wing) and 10/21-Ibotonsana Girls Higher Secondary School (Southern Wing) have been identified as Women Polling Stations cum Model Polling Stations.
 
10/25-Uripok Bachaspati Leikai with 1119 electors has the highest number of electors and 10/19-Uripok Yambem Leikai with just 387 electors is the polling station with the lowest electors in the constituency.

A total of 160 polling officials will be utilised in the 35 polling stations of the constituency, which are divided into three sectors with one Sector Officer controlling a sector each, she said.

As of date, 94.52 percent of the electors in the constituency have received at least one dose of COVID-19 Vaccine and 87.89 percent have received a second dose.

Deputy Chief Minister and sitting NPP MLA of the constituency Yumnam Joykumar Singh along with three others are in fray for 10-Uripok AC seat. The other three are Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nunglepam Mahananda Singh of the Indian National Congress and Khombongmayum Suresh Singh of the Janata Dal (United).

In the first State Legislative Election in 1972, Moirangthem Meghachandra of Communist Party of India became the first Member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from the Uripok AC by defeating Khaidem Rajmani of the Indian National Congress. Meghachandra retained the seat in the 1974 election.

In the next election in 1980, Independent candidate Paonam Achou Singh defeated L Raghumani of the Janata Party (JNP) to win the Uripok seat. Paonam Achou Singh fought the 1984 election with an Indian National Congress ticket and won the seat.

However, in 1990, Paonam Achou contesting on an Indian Congress (Socialist-Sarat Chandra Sinha) party ticket lost to Takhellambam Gunadhwaja Singh of the INC.

In 1995, Manipur People’s Party candidate Nameirakpam Nodiachand Singh defeated Laishram Nandakumar Singh of Federal Party of Manipur (FPM).

In the 7th State Legislative Election, 2000, Paonam Achou returned with Manipur State Congress Party ticket to defeat Laishram Nandakumar Singh of FPM and regained the Uripok seat. Two years later in the 8th Manipur Assembly election, Laishram Nandakumar Singh, contesting on an INC ticket, defeated the then sitting MLA P Achou of the FPM.

In 2007, Nandakumar retained the seat defeating his rival Achou who fought the election on MPP ticket. Nadakumar completed his hat-trick of wins by defeating Independent candidate N Dwijamani Singh in the 10th Assembly election, 2012.
Five years later, in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2017, former IPS officer-turned politician Yumnam Joykumar Singh defeated the then sitting MLA Laishram Nadakumar of INC.

It may be mentioned that other than Nameirakpam Nodiachand, who was elected in 1995, every other elected member from the 10-Uripok AC have been ministers in the State cabinet.

NCHRO joined the united protest against hate politics at Uttrakhand Bhawan

By: Admin on 12/28/2021 03:03:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


On December 27, a protest was held at the Uttarakhand Sadan in Delhi against the display of bigotry and hate at the Dharm Sansad assembly in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Leaders of Hindu organisations had called for genocide against Muslims in an assembly about a week ago. Several progressive organisations had made a joint call to protest this hate and hold the people in power accountable. We also demanded the resignation of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister and immediate action to be taken against the perpetrators.

Human rights organisation the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO) joined the protest along with the other organisations.

We stand firmly against the hate politics which has been made possible at the behest of the Hindu nationalist government in power. We also call upon other organisations and individuals to stand united firmly against hate politics.
Sincerely,

Ishu Jaiswal,
Coordinator,
Delhi, NCHRO

MURL condemns killing of 13 civilians by security Forces in Nagaland

By: Admin on 12/07/2021 07:41:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


Justice B G Kolse Patil, President, Movement Againt UAPA And Other Repressive Laws (MURL) said in a press statement issued here today,  that Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA),  is the main reason for the uncontrolled military powers for detention, torture, destruction, killing and execution of Indian citizens in North East and other border states. 

The latest very unfortunate incident of human rights violation is from Nagaland, wherein 13 innocent persons were killed and some were seriously injured without any significant cause. The ghastly incident took place when the villagers were returning home in a pick-up truck after the day’s work at a coal mine.  The president of Oting Village Students’ Union (OVSU), Keapwang Konyak, informed that the incident came to light after the victims didn’t return home as usual. He informed that six persons were killed on the spot while four others were killed after the volunteers set the vehicle on fire. 

In 2017, the Supreme Court had ordered an investigation into 1,528 cases of alleged extrajudicial killings between 2000 and 2012 by the security forces and police in neighbouring Manipur, another state under AFSPA.  It is a law that has great potential for large-scale human rights violations. 

This law caused enormous sufferings for thousands of innocent people, as armed forces grossly misused the provisions and killed, raped, and abducted civilians and destroyed their properties. Some states like Kashmir and Manipur witnessed more violence by the armed forces by using the provisions of this Act.

The AFSPA gives the central government power to declare certain regions, or even an entire state, as ‘disturbed areas’. This can be done by the central government even without the consent of the state government. “No prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government, against any person in respect of anything done or purported to be done in exercise of the powers conferred by this Act,” the Act says.

The people of the states under AFSPA and human rights groups across India have been demanding for long, an unconditional withdrawal of AFSPA in the best national interests. 

Justice Kolse Patil called upon all parties and groups that have concerns for justice and peace in our border regions, to build joint struggles till the repeal of this repressive law.

AFSPA should go.

Yours in solidarity,
Sadique Qureshi (National Coordinator) 
Movement Against UAPA And Other Repressive Laws (MURL)
Contact No: 9021264212  
Email: info@repealrepressivelaws.com

BJP Government uses the Draconian UAPA to Supress Democratic Voices of Dissent frequently Justice BG Kolse Patil

By: Admin on 11/05/2021 01:55:00 AM / comment : 0 , ,


MURL Chairperson Justice B G Kolse Patil mentioned in his press statement, that the Team of Advocates of the Hon. Supreme Court, who had visited Tripura on a fact finding mission, on the attack on Minorities were obstructed by The Agartala Police which issued notices against Advocate Mukesh PUCL Delhi and Advocate Ansar Indori under Section 13 of UAPA and sections of IPC. The charges initiated against them include Sections 153-A and B (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of Religion, Race, Place of Origin, Residence, Language, etc), Section 469 (Forgery for Purpose of Harmful Information), Section 503 (Criminal Intimidation), Section 504 ((Willful Insult with intent to provoke the Breach of Peace/Create Discord) and Section120B (Punishment for Criminal Conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 13 of UAPA. 


MURL strongly condemns this act of Suppression of the Voice of Dissent by the Tripura State Government.

The cases against Advocate Mukesh and Advocate Indori have been registered at West Agartala Police Station which mention “the social media posts circulated by you/statements made by you for promoting enmity between religious groups as well as provoking the people of different religious communities to cause Breach of Peace.”

Supreme Court Lawyers Mr Ehtesham Hashmi and Mr Amit Srivastava along with Advocate Mukesh and Advocate Indori have released their fact finding report on the Tripura Riots, on Tuesday, 2nd November 2021 at the National Capital's Press Club. In their report titled as “Humanity Under Attack in Tripura; #Muslim Lives Matter" they have directly blamed the BJP-led State Government for the misery caused to the Minority Muslim Community. They said that if the Tripura State Government had acted on time, it could have thwarted and controlled the premeditated violence against the Minority Muslim Community, but it allegedly gave free hands to the Hindutva Mobs.

The BJP - ruled Governments both at the Centre, as well as the State wants to benefit from the polarization of the two communities by spreading communal discord during the forth coming elections to achieve their Hindutva based political objectives. 

These Advocates registered their protests against the planned religious hysteria created by the State Government and exposed the malicious intent of the BJP amongst the locals of Tripura , which was not well received by the State Government and Local Administration. 

The Issuance of such notices to the Lawyers/Advocates is nothing but a blatant attempt to terrorise and intimidate them from speaking the truth and exposing the Government fallacies. The invocation of Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) is contrary to law, improper and a vindictive act against these Advocates. We and the general public who believe in the Democratic process and law of the land, stand in full solidarity with these Advocates in their fight against Communalism and Religious Polarization.

We urge the law abiding and peace loving Citizens of India to come forward, unite and resist these excesses and inhuman oppressive laws.
                      
 Yours in solidarity,

Sadique Qureshi MURL (Coordinator) 
Movement Against UAPA And Other Repressive Laws (MURL)
Contact No: 9021264212  
Email: info@repealrepressivelaws.com
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