Imphal Christians against Orissa violence

Hundreds of Christians Wednesday march on the streets in Imphal to protest against the violent attacks on Christians in Orissa.Placards with slogans like, “Safeguard freedom of religion”, “Protect secularism in India”, “Protect places of worship”, “Rebuild the houses of the victims”, “Compensate the losses”, “We denounce the killing of VHP leader” were displayed during the rally.In the rally organized by the All Manipur Christian Organization, an apex body of people following Christian religion in Manipur, people coming from different places of the state took part. Christian leaders of the state while speaking at the public meeting condemned the atrocities and violence like burning down of churches and houses of Christians in Orissa in the last around one month.Quoting a report published in a weekly “The Herald” published from Kolkata, a spokesperson of the organizers said that in the recent violent attacks on the Christians in Orissa, 4104 homesteads and shops extending over 194 villages in Orissa were torched or dismantled while more than 50 churches were destroyed.Apart from rendering homeless thousands of Christians, many schools and people including school children were assaulted by the attackers who blamed the Christian for the killing of a VHP leader in the state on August 23.The attacks on the Christians were committed despite Maoist activists owning responsibility for the murder of the VHP leader, the spokesperson said.He also said that the recent incidents of attacks on Christians in the state were not new, recounting the incidents of attacks on Christians in December 2007.He also said that there was no “forced conversion” in Orissa or any other parts of the country observing, “No one can force a man to convert his religion. It is one’s own will to follow a religion.” Today’s rally was organized to show solidarity to the Christians and demand a CBI probe into the violent attacks on Christians, he said.The Christians in Orissa, mention may be made, are demanding a CBI probe into the murder of the VHP leader and the attacks on the Christians and award of befitting punishment to the culprits behind the crimes.To arrest leaders of the organizations initiating the violence against Christians immediately, to protect minorities and their institutions, to take up relief measures and rehabilitation works for the victim people, to compensate adequately for the losses are the other demands of the Christians.

Sharmila Remanded to Judicial Custody

Irom Sharmila Chanu winner of Gwangju Prize for Human Rights 2007, has been remanded to judicial custody till October 1st 2008 after she was produced before the court of judicial Magistrate (First Class) at Lamphelpat yesterday. While at the court premise Sharmila upon hearing that her mother was feeling unwell and sick could not stop herself from crying as she regards her mother as an inspiration for her untiring endeavour to protest the imposition of the draconian law the Armed Forces' Special Powers Act 1958, She has been held up at the Security Ward of JN Hospital for over eight years and periodically produced before the relevant courts due to legal compulsion by the Manipur Government Police Department for her agitation in the form of Hunger Strike till AFSPA is removed.

Dimapur Police Rescues 17 Manipuri Girls

Kohima, Sep 18: In a suspected case of human trafficking, Dimapur police rescued 17 girls and one boy who were sent by an agent from Manipur to Chennai in Tamel Nadu. Those girls were sent back to Manipur by Dimapur Police on Tuesday. According to a report carried in a Dimapur newspaper in the Wednesday's edition, on receiving information from Manipur about suspected trafficking of minor girls and a request to stop them, Dimapur police team stepped up frisking operation at Chukumedima Check Gate in the outskirt of Dimapur and intercepted a bus coming from Manipur carrying those girls, who were immediately detained and brought to women cell of the police. Dimapur police sources said that most of the girls were minors, while 3 or 4 of them might be above 18 years of age. The newspaper reported that during the interrogation, the girls revealed that they were being sent to Chennai by an agent from Manipur promising jobs at some industry. However, the concerned persons failed to produce any documents about the authenticity of the factory/industry where these girls were supposed to be employed. Dimapur police even contacted Chennai and Manipur to inquire about the same, but they did not get any satisfactory reply and informed the Manipur Government, NGOs about the development, according to the newspaper report.Dimapur police escorted the girls back to Manipur till Mao Gate, where they would be handed over to officials of the Government, NGOs, Mao Public Organization and other organizations.