Irom Sharmila completes 10 years of hunger strike demanding the repeal of the AFSPA

Sharmila stands for humanity: Rights activists

2010-11-04 / 03:53:54

By Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 03: Human right activists from various parts of the country attending a seminar held at the banquet hall of Hotel Classic, North AOC today discoursed on the demand for removal of Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 terming it as a “terror act”.

They also termed Sharmila’s lone 10-year of fasting as a “spiritual challenge’ against terror acts while acknowledging her unique struggle. Rajya Sabha MP and former Chief Minister, Rishang Keishing presided the opening function of the seminar in which Prof Dr Bimol Akoijam of Jawaharlal Nehru University delivered the key note address.

Rishang Keishing, in his speech as president, stressed on the need for a united struggle for rights, at the seminar held at the banquet hall of Hotel Classic, North AOC today as a part of a five-day Festival of Hope, Justice and Peace.

Rishang said that Sharmila is fighting against AFSPA for the cause of the people reminding that people of this land are confronting with difficulties of different forms being a backward state. In this situation, there is the need of building up a united strength for protecting our rights. He also expressed concern over the increasing number of underground groups in this tiny state of Manipur.

The pre-lunch session of the seminar was moderated by former chairman of the Manipur Human Rights Commission Justice (retired) WA Sishak. Advocate Khaidem Mani, Human Right Alerts’ director, Bablu Loitangbam, former MHRC member Yambem Laba talked as resource persons.

Kaka D Irallu, noted human rights activist from Nagaland recalled the life of the people of his state at the initial stage of the enactment of the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act.

Recalling the ordeal of his early life under AFSPA , he said that he was among the victims of the act in his early as a 12-year old. “My parents were tortured repeatedly  by the security forces in the name of counter insurgency. I hid with my parents in the jungle unable to bear the atrocities. I was in jail at the age of 12 where my parents were also lodged.”

People of Nagaland were the first victims of the draconian law which gives extra power to the security forces. Thousands of villagers from hundreds of villages were victims when “India first imposed the act in my state”.

While saluting Sharmila for her undeterred struggle for removal of the draconian act, he said “I salute Sharmila. She is not struggling for Manipur only but also for the whole North East people….. and of course for humanity.” Her struggle is unique in the globe. There is none in this world who has fasted for 10-years for justice and peace of the people.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), was passed on September 11, 1958 by the Parliament of India. It conferred special powers upon armed forces in what the language of the act calls "disturbed areas" in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

It was enacted to curb rebels in Nagaland demanding sovereignty of the Naga people. It was later extended to Jammu and Kashmir as the The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 in July 1990.

Irallu said that Nagas are trying to defend their independence while India is imposing their independence. This is what the conflict is going on in the state.

He also said that he wrote a book on his experience under AFSPA recollecting the ordeal of his life under the atrocities meted out by the security forces under the act and tried to publish it in New Delhi.

But no publishers were ready to publish the book. Later, “with my own effort, it was published in Assam,” he recalled.
Saying that the act is still a problem in the North Eastern region, he made an appeal to the people of the region not to remain silent but to join hands together and fight for justice and peace of the people.

Bablu Loitongbam, human right activist asserted that none of the prominent leaders of India was ever targeted by the insurgents in the North East. He reminded that Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Tamil Nadu and many top leaders of the Centre were killed in Punjab. “But no such terror act (AFSPA) was imposed in these states.

Top Army officers have always said “We should not be use force on to our own people”, Bablu recalled and asked if this “our own people” ended at West Bengal. Are not the NE people their people, he asked.

Sharmila’s struggle is not a normal fight for justice for the down trodden people but a spiritual challenge. India government should not that even the UN Human Right Commission has condemned the act, he observed.

The seminar on AFSPA was held at the Banquet Hall of Classic Hotel, Imphal. In the morning session many resource persons talked on “Illegitimacy of the AFSPA: From the Supreme Court to the Jeevan Reddy Committee Enabling Laws and Practices: Institutional and Normative Implications.”

The afternoon session was mainly concentrated on “Repressive or Progressive?: Reflections of 1997 Supreme Court Judgment, Jeevan Reddy Committee: Report Reflections on Government of India’s response, AFSPA and Criminal Jurisprudence: Reflections on Principles & Practices, Implications on Institutions: Reflections on practices & implications for Justice.

Open letter to Prime Minister of India and Member of Parliament in India on AFSPA

Greetings from PVCHR and Wide Angel.

Sir, we are happy to know that the Government of India is considering amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The media reports about your active engagement with the main  opposition party for consensus building in this regard. We consider it as a positive development.

The Government of India in response to the face an extra ordinary situation placed the entire state of Manipur under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, (AFSPA) way back in 1980. At present, according to security analysts, there are around 44 underground groups operating across the state representing different religious and cultural identities. The civilian security personnel ratio according to a 2009 report is 40: 1, an indicator of a state in emergency. The security responses to the political crisis were unwarranted. Such measures have never worked in any part of the world. Regular election might give an impression of the presence of a legitimate government. But where is governance? The 'responsibility to rule' has shifted from a civilian government had tilted the balance of from a civilian government to man in uniform. Armed with extraordinary power, the security agencies engaged in fake killing, custodial killing, rape, and other forms of human rights violations with impunity.  The claim of foreign hand in perpetuating the crisis continues to hunt the government. Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh himself admits, "Over 12,000 security personnel and insurgents, and 8000 innocent people have lost their lives till date. People are insecure, angry, feel cheated and humiliated. 

It is necessary to understand the people of the state. How many times the Prime Minister of this country or the Leader of the Opposition leader in the parliament visited in the beleaguered state? Committees have been set up to look into the human rights violations undeniable under the constant pressures by the human rights groups from the state, as well as those working at the in the national and international level. Where are the reports? Justice B. P. Jeeven Reddy Commission, deputed to study and report to the Government of India about the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 submitted its findings way back in 2005.  The Prime Minister of India responded by stating in a press conference that the law will be withdrawn as early as possible. Since then nothing is heard about the governments' plan to withdraw the law. Such open ended answers reflect the casualness of the government and hurt people.

The entire state and people in the rest of the country forget the brutal killing of Manorama Thangjam, 32, by the men of Assam Rifles in July, 2004 and the following public outcry?  How can the world forget grief-stricken angry women stripped naked in front of the Kangla Fort (headquarters of the Assam Rifles), demanding justice. Those are the shameful moments for each of us. The government unfortunately measures people's opinion through the reports filed by the security agencies. There is a clear disconnect between the centre and the people of the state on what form 'reason'. The state does not figure in the priority list of the government as well as the political parties due its low 'political premium'.

When the world recognizes and shows solidarity with the non violent protest of Irom Sharmila, that entered into the 7^th year for demanding establishment of rule of law and repeal of AFSPA entirely from the state, the political system both in Delhi and Manipur get into the brass task toundermine the strength of non violence through their silence and ignorance. Her's is the longest protest for a social cause by any single individual anywhere in the world. Reacting to her hunger strike, and the public support across the globe, the frustrated  Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, the Chief Minister told in the Manipur State Assembly that the state government had to spend around Rs 147,000 in two years to keep Sharmila 'alive'. We are sure; the Britishers never said such thing against Gandhiji. Neither the security agencies, nor the political class have learned the meaning and experience of non violence, except using it as a debit card.   

Our organisations' initiative for establishing 'Testimonial Therapy' has helped in empowering victims of torture and their psychological rehabilitation. While advocating for 'Right to Rehabilitation' of the victim, we stand solidly behind the rational and democratic demands of the people. Working with the victims and meeting cross section of the people of the state including Ms Sharmila, Co-awardees of Gwangju Human Rights Award, we had the realization of the deepening frustration of the people against the main land Indians. The centre might claim, but the state does not function. Systemic failure is complete.  The government both at the state and at the centre aptly replicates the three monkeys of Gandhiji for all wrong reasons.

PVCHR and wide angle therefore requests you to:

1) Encourage the Government of India to immediately withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958;
2) Suggest the government to constitute an independent agency to investigate and prosecute cases of human rights violations committed by the state agencies in Manipur;
3) Recommend the government to implement the recommendations made by the Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy Commission submitted to the government in 2005;
4) Urge the government to simultaneously find a political solution to the problems affecting rule of law in Manipur though a process of interactive dialogue with the people and their leaders, thereby creating an environment of mutual respect and understanding. Necessary to believe that absence of violence does not mean absence of conflict. 
With warm regards,
Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Executive Director, PVCHR, Varanasi
Mr Montu  Ahanthem, Secretary, Wide Angle, Manipur

We have communicated  our grievances, demanded justice for the victims and argued for a just, democratic, systemic response to the larger issues of the state time to time through letters to people who matter, or writing blogs, which are mentioned below. 

· India: Please take immediate action to save the life of the Female Human Rights Defender in Manipur, India.
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/08/india-please-take-immediate-action-to_19.html

· Thanks from the mothers of Manipur to you
http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/thanks-from-mothers-of-manipur-to-you.html
· PVCHR actions against torture in Manipurhttp://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/pvchr-actions-against- torture-in.html

· Open letter in the matter of Manipurhttp://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/open-letter-in-matter-of-manipur_02.html

http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/08/petition-in-murder-in-plain-sight-at.html

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main42.asp?filename=Ne080809murder_in.asp

Open letter to Shri Rahul Gandhi for repeal of AFSA on 2 August 2009.Please visit:

 http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/open-letter-in-matter-of-manipur_02.html

German Sanjenbam a victim of HIV/AIDS discrimination

Case story of German Sanjenbam

Sanjenbam German Singh alias Noinoisana is a 15 years old double orphan from Uripok Tourangbam leikai, studying in class 8 at St. Savio School, Lamphel. His parents had died 10 years ago. His father was a drug user and later on both his parents became HIV positive and died. He too contacted the disease from his parents and was on ART treatment.

He was stigmatize, discriminated and tortured by his own near & dear ones, after the death of his parents he was living with his uncle & aunty. He was treated very badly and was made to do all the hard works including the daily household works. He was not provided proper food & clothing, they use to scold him and even beat him and was not allowed to mingle with other children in the family saying that he will spread HIV virus to other members of the family. He was blamed for every small thing, his aunty even spread the rumor that he had molested her daughter even use to hide and throw away his ART medicines. Her main intention was that if ART is not provided to him he will die soon and his parental property can be taken away by them.

After so much sufferings and torture in the hands of his uncle and aunt, he no longer could bear the physical torture and one day he ran away to his maternal grandmother’s house at Malom. He stayed there for few days, on 5^th April 2010, his cousin brother (aunt’s son) and some other persons came to his maternal grandmother’s house and took him along with them on the charged of molesting her cousin sister, nobody knew about his whereabouts, on the next day morning of 7^th April 2010 he was found brutally murdered, his face and head were smashed beyond recognition. There is a big suspicion that his uncle and aunty were directly involved in this brutal murder.

The incident of this Boy brought a huge outcry in the State of Manipur. Many NGO’s and other civil society organizations came out strongly against this brutal act and demanded that the culprits be booked and punished. On 19^th of April 2010 a huge public rally was jointly organized by NGO’s working in the field of Drug and HIV/AIDS and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur for framing of state policy to protect the Right of Children living with HIV/AIDS.

Note: How an innocent child who has been on ART has been murdered mercilessly for the sake of some property/land by his own near and dear ones and who also showed/act as his care giver in the eyes of the society.   

TESTIMONY OF HEMAM NAREN

I, Shri Hemam Naren, aged about 32 years from Moirang Kiyam Leikai, P.O. /P.S. Bishnupur, Manipur, am the first son of Shri H.Iboyaima and Ekasini Devi. I am a victim of police and army torture.

The incident happened at 11pm on 17^th July 2008 midnight, when I was sleeping in my bedroom, four Army Personnel from 7^th battalion Assam Rifles suddenly entered my house and flashed the torchlight on my face. They asked me “Is your name Naren?” at that moment; an army personnel handcuffed my hands and threatened me to be silence and not to inform any of my family member. They blindfolded me and pushed me inside their vehicle. I was so scared and thought it was my last day, after reaching their camp they tied my hands, blindfolded my eyes and pushed me into the interrogation cell. On the next morning they untied my hands and freed my eyes. At that moment I came to know that I was at Moirang Khunou army camp. A officer came to the room where I was holdup and gave me a cup of tea asking me my army number but I told him that I was not associated with any underground group. Then, they started beating brutally by asking again and again ‘what is your army number ?’. I beg them to stop beating me, I felt unconscious, when I regain consciousness they started beating me again. I could not bear their torture anymore, at last to get away from torture I gave a number blindly, then they stopped torturing and handed me to the Moirang Police Station, I spent six days in Moirang Police Station after that they shifted me in the Sajiwa Jail and charged me that I was involved in the army ambushed at Sugnu and Thinungei. I was released from Sajiwa Jail only when my family paid a sum of Rs. 30,000 to the authority.

After some months of the incident, one night on October 2008, 6th JAT Regiment came to my home and arrested me again. I told them that I was a bail out person but they didn’t listen to me. They took me to the Ngangkhalawai Army Camp and started torturing me just like before. On the next day I was handed over to Moirang Police Station again and put up in the custody for ten days. Then I was produced at Bishnupur District Court and charged me on various cases, I was released on bailed after giving the security bond.

After going through the tortured by police and army personnel, I can not sleep in the night when ever I hear the sound of vehicle, I feel I am still suffering the trauma. As a tortured victim I would like to express my views and feeling to all the organisation working on the field of Human Rights that this testimony may provide a message to all those who have faced the same tortured like me to stand up and tell our stories to the world that we shall get justice one day.

Advocacy on Proper Health Care Services

Advocacy programme

4 hours, 43 minutes, 28 seconds ago

IMPHAL, March 30: A one day advocacy programme on “The proper healthcare services” was held at conference hall of JN Hospital today with the health care service providers of JN Hospital especially with the matrons, sisters, nurses and other staffs organised by the WIDE ANGLE.

Resource persons at the advocacy meet strongly observed the need to use proper terminology relating to HIV/AIDS. They also urged media to use proper language and terms relating to HIV. Other important points highlighted during the meet was that sanitization/awareness and advocacyplay an important role in disclosing the status of an individual. stigma & discrimination which also disturbs the environment of health care services.
 
An appeal was further made by WIDE ANGLE to provide the necessities needed by the institution to have a workable atmosphere.

The organiser also made fervent appeal to the underground outfits to let Manipur a drug free zone by giving no obstructions to health care sector so that health care providers could render their services freely and successfully.  

'9 mm pistol and three live round found from the victim' this statement by the Police in all the encountering killing is very suspicious.

UN Special Rapporteur alerted on arbitrary killings in Manipur

4 hours, 14 minutes, 9 seconds ago

IMPHAL, March 24: the Asian Human Rights Commission has alerted the UN Special Rapporteur on extra judicial detentions and killings in Manipur and urged the people of the country to send letters to various dignitaries of the state as well as Union government as part of a campaign to end state violence of the nature.
The letter circulated on the internet detailed the condition of a very recent suspected case of fake encounter killing by commandos of the Manipur police.
The letter said the AHRC has received information concerning the illegal arrest and alleged murder of another person by state police, a release said.
It said it is widely suspected that his killing was part of a combined operation between the Manipur State Police Commando Unit and officers of the 21 Assam Rifles (AR).
Giving details the release said on 14 March 2010 at around 9:30pm Mr. Chongtham Nanao (also known as Sanjoy) and his brother-in-law Bobo were confronted by police; they had finished dining together and were walking between their two houses. Two white vehicles carrying members of the Manipur State Police Commando Unit stopped them at the compound gate of Nanao's house. The officers demanded their identities and asked Bobo whether the person with him was Nanao, but before Bobo could reply the officers seized Nanao and dragged him into their vehicle.
The officers took the men's torch and mobile telephones, warned Bobo not to tell anybody that they had taken Nanao, and drove away, it said.
Back at home Bobo informed his mother and sister about the incident, while Nanao's family met and consulted with the local village head, Ms. Radhe. She contacted Kakching Police Station over telephone at about 10pm but the staff there denied any knowledge of his arrest, it said.
The next morning Kakching police informed Radhe that they had recovered a dead body from the location of an alleged shootout between police and armed militants; they invited her to see the corpse. After she had informed Nanao’s relatives they visited the station and were able to positively identify Nanao.
The local media claimed that a combined team of Thoubal Police Commandos and 21 Assam Rifles (AR) are involved in the murder, the release said.
The police meanwhile, alleged that Nanao belonged to a banned militant organisation, the Kanglei Yaon Kanba Lup (KYKL), and was shot dead in an armed encounter at a place called Nongjubi Hills (under the jurisdiction of Kakching Police Station). The officers further claimed that they recovered a 9mm pistol with three live rounds and a hand grenade from the victim.
That day a group of civilians formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) in response to the killing; their protest obstructed local traffic. The JAC has also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur and a written complaint to Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Director General of Police (DGP), demanding an independent inquiry into the incident, the release further said.
It said extrajudicial execution is at an alarmingly high rate in Manipur. Even though there are no reliable statistics for the exact number of persons killed by the state agencies there, credible government reports suggest that it is very high.
In a public statement issued by Mr. Joy Kumar Singh, the Director General of Police in Manipur in November 2009, the officer said that his men had killed at least 260 persons between January and November 2009; he added that those killed were all operatives of underground militant groups, the release said.
The AHRC in its campaign against these arbitrary killings have urged the people to write their concern to the authorities. It said it is also sending an account of the killings to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, calling for an intervention in this case.

'9 mm pistol and three live round found from the victim' this statement by the Police in all the encountering killing is very suspicious.

UN Special Rapporteur alerted on arbitrary killings in Manipur

4 hours, 14 minutes, 9 seconds ago

IMPHAL, March 24: the Asian Human Rights Commission has alerted the UN Special Rapporteur on extra judicial detentions and killings in Manipur and urged the people of the country to send letters to various dignitaries of the state as well as Union government as part of a campaign to end state violence of the nature.
The letter circulated on the internet detailed the condition of a very recent suspected case of fake encounter killing by commandos of the Manipur police.
The letter said the AHRC has received information concerning the illegal arrest and alleged murder of another person by state police, a release said.
It said it is widely suspected that his killing was part of a combined operation between the Manipur State Police Commando Unit and officers of the 21 Assam Rifles (AR).
Giving details the release said on 14 March 2010 at around 9:30pm Mr. Chongtham Nanao (also known as Sanjoy) and his brother-in-law Bobo were confronted by police; they had finished dining together and were walking between their two houses. Two white vehicles carrying members of the Manipur State Police Commando Unit stopped them at the compound gate of Nanao's house. The officers demanded their identities and asked Bobo whether the person with him was Nanao, but before Bobo could reply the officers seized Nanao and dragged him into their vehicle.
The officers took the men's torch and mobile telephones, warned Bobo not to tell anybody that they had taken Nanao, and drove away, it said.
Back at home Bobo informed his mother and sister about the incident, while Nanao's family met and consulted with the local village head, Ms. Radhe. She contacted Kakching Police Station over telephone at about 10pm but the staff there denied any knowledge of his arrest, it said.
The next morning Kakching police informed Radhe that they had recovered a dead body from the location of an alleged shootout between police and armed militants; they invited her to see the corpse. After she had informed Nanao’s relatives they visited the station and were able to positively identify Nanao.
The local media claimed that a combined team of Thoubal Police Commandos and 21 Assam Rifles (AR) are involved in the murder, the release said.
The police meanwhile, alleged that Nanao belonged to a banned militant organisation, the Kanglei Yaon Kanba Lup (KYKL), and was shot dead in an armed encounter at a place called Nongjubi Hills (under the jurisdiction of Kakching Police Station). The officers further claimed that they recovered a 9mm pistol with three live rounds and a hand grenade from the victim.
That day a group of civilians formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) in response to the killing; their protest obstructed local traffic. The JAC has also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur and a written complaint to Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Director General of Police (DGP), demanding an independent inquiry into the incident, the release further said.
It said extrajudicial execution is at an alarmingly high rate in Manipur. Even though there are no reliable statistics for the exact number of persons killed by the state agencies there, credible government reports suggest that it is very high.
In a public statement issued by Mr. Joy Kumar Singh, the Director General of Police in Manipur in November 2009, the officer said that his men had killed at least 260 persons between January and November 2009; he added that those killed were all operatives of underground militant groups, the release said.
The AHRC in its campaign against these arbitrary killings have urged the people to write their concern to the authorities. It said it is also sending an account of the killings to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, calling for an intervention in this case.

'9 mm pistol and three live round found from the victim' this statement by the Police in all the encountering killing is very suspicious.

UN Special Rapporteur alerted on arbitrary killings in Manipur

4 hours, 14 minutes, 9 seconds ago

IMPHAL, March 24: the Asian Human Rights Commission has alerted the UN Special Rapporteur on extra judicial detentions and killings in Manipur and urged the people of the country to send letters to various dignitaries of the state as well as Union government as part of a campaign to end state violence of the nature.
The letter circulated on the internet detailed the condition of a very recent suspected case of fake encounter killing by commandos of the Manipur police.
The letter said the AHRC has received information concerning the illegal arrest and alleged murder of another person by state police, a release said.
It said it is widely suspected that his killing was part of a combined operation between the Manipur State Police Commando Unit and officers of the 21 Assam Rifles (AR).
Giving details the release said on 14 March 2010 at around 9:30pm Mr. Chongtham Nanao (also known as Sanjoy) and his brother-in-law Bobo were confronted by police; they had finished dining together and were walking between their two houses. Two white vehicles carrying members of the Manipur State Police Commando Unit stopped them at the compound gate of Nanao's house. The officers demanded their identities and asked Bobo whether the person with him was Nanao, but before Bobo could reply the officers seized Nanao and dragged him into their vehicle.
The officers took the men's torch and mobile telephones, warned Bobo not to tell anybody that they had taken Nanao, and drove away, it said.
Back at home Bobo informed his mother and sister about the incident, while Nanao's family met and consulted with the local village head, Ms. Radhe. She contacted Kakching Police Station over telephone at about 10pm but the staff there denied any knowledge of his arrest, it said.
The next morning Kakching police informed Radhe that they had recovered a dead body from the location of an alleged shootout between police and armed militants; they invited her to see the corpse. After she had informed Nanao’s relatives they visited the station and were able to positively identify Nanao.
The local media claimed that a combined team of Thoubal Police Commandos and 21 Assam Rifles (AR) are involved in the murder, the release said.
The police meanwhile, alleged that Nanao belonged to a banned militant organisation, the Kanglei Yaon Kanba Lup (KYKL), and was shot dead in an armed encounter at a place called Nongjubi Hills (under the jurisdiction of Kakching Police Station). The officers further claimed that they recovered a 9mm pistol with three live rounds and a hand grenade from the victim.
That day a group of civilians formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) in response to the killing; their protest obstructed local traffic. The JAC has also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur and a written complaint to Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Director General of Police (DGP), demanding an independent inquiry into the incident, the release further said.
It said extrajudicial execution is at an alarmingly high rate in Manipur. Even though there are no reliable statistics for the exact number of persons killed by the state agencies there, credible government reports suggest that it is very high.
In a public statement issued by Mr. Joy Kumar Singh, the Director General of Police in Manipur in November 2009, the officer said that his men had killed at least 260 persons between January and November 2009; he added that those killed were all operatives of underground militant groups, the release said.
The AHRC in its campaign against these arbitrary killings have urged the people to write their concern to the authorities. It said it is also sending an account of the killings to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, calling for an intervention in this case.

Peoples' Convention

Impact on child by power sub-station discussed

2010-03-24 | 04:23:33

Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 23: A public meeting held at Yurembam Makha Keithel discussed on the impact to be given to the children by the installation of high power sub-station at Yurembam.

The meeting was organised by the Yurembam Apunba Club (YAC) and Wide Angle Social Development Organisation. Retired headmaster Y Iboton, president of YAC, Ng Ragu and Social worker Sangma were in the dais of the meeting.

The meeting prominently discussed on the impact likely to be given to the people after the upgradation of the existing 130 KV Power Sub-station at Yurembam into 400 KV Sub-station as well as impact that will be received by the people of the surrounding areas of the sub-station.

The meeting resolved that the installation of the power sub-station in the area will not only violate the fundamental rights like economic, social justice but also will give great impact to the children.

Gandhi to Sharmila campaign concludes

Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 14: Mobilization for support from members of the Parliament is needed for repealing the Armed Forces (Special) Power Act, 1958, MLA O Joy of Manipur People Party (MPP) observed speaking at the concluding function of the Gandhi to Sharmila campaign here at Manipur Press Club, Major Khul today.

For the repeal of the act, MPs of the Parliament needs to be mobilized apart from adopting a resolution by the house of Manipur Legislative Assembly, O joy said urging the people to convince the MLAs of the state Assembly assuring that he is ready to move a motion with regard to the repeal of the Act in the house at any time.

The lone fasting stir launching by Sharmila is a rare historic gift. Under the Act many cruel incidents had occurred in the state. That is why, people of Manipur got the support of other section of the people from both India and aboard, he observed.

Security forces are becoming for cruel under the Armed Forces (Special) Power Act, 1958 is well known across the globe. That is why, they are extending solidarity to the demand of the people of the Manipur to repeal the Act, he reiterated.

The Gandhi to Sharmila campaign was launched by the Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) in association with Just for Peace Manipur.

The campaign began on January 30 last concluded Sunday after covering 23 cities of Asia including cities of India with the grass root organization of Manipur, Wide Angle sent open letter to the parliamentarian of both houses showing solidarity to the Sharmila’s fasting struggle to repeal the Act from the entire state of Manipur.
Irom Sharmila has been on a hunger strike demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 following the massacre of 10 civilians by the Armed Forces on 2 November 2000.

O Joy, announcing his stance of not compromising with his support to repeal of the Act, said he is feeling shame when the matter was never discuss in the house of the Manipur Assembly. MLA RK Anand who also attended the function expressed dissatisfaction when 19 opposition members of the Assembly could not take a unanimous decision and push the government to repeal the Act.

“A political will is a must to press the Parliament for repealing the Act. For this all opposition members of the Assembly should unite in moving a motion to adopt a resolution,” he said observing for a join effort of the MLAs and Parliamentarians of the north east to unite for pushing the Centre in repealing the Act.

The Act is for not breaking the integrity of India but putting people of the region in such a state, putting under the boots of the security forces for the integrity of the country is not a right step, he went on to observed.

Yambem Laba while participating the panel discussion observed that the incidents of threatening individuals and government officials with bombs and guns is part of counter revolutionary should be known by all.

The campaign was to gather support of Sharmila's struggle and to demand the repeal of AFSPA which the Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005), the Administrative Reform Commission headed by the present Union Law Minster Dr Veerappa Moilly and the Working Group on Confidence Building Measures headed by the present Vice President Mr. Hamid Ansari have consistently recommended to repeal of Act.
An Armed Forces Special Powers Amendment Bill 2009 was listed for discussion in the last winter session of the parliament, but it was not brought up for discussion. We are expecting that the matter will come up during the budget session of the Parliament starting from 22 February 2010, but so far this does not happen, lamented Babloo Loitongbam of the Just Peace Foundation.

Press Conference by Yurembam - Patsoi - Tabungkhok Land protection demand committee

Happy Birthday Sharmila Chanu

Another 536 teachers urgently needed to run normal classes in Tml

2010-02-26 | 04:31:15

Daniel Kamei

Tamenglong, February 25: Apart from acute shortage of infrastructure of school building and its furnitures in schools another 536 teachers are urgently needed to run normal classes for 113 schools in Tamenglong district of Manipur.

The existing teacher’s strength for 113 schools in the whole of Tamenglong district has only 349 teachers under Zonal Education office was posted here excluding the teachers of three Higher Secondary Schools of Tamenglong district of Manipur.

At present m there are only 66 teachers for nine high schools, only two teachers for one Aided High schools, 182 teachers for 30 Junior high schools, 58 teachers for 27 Aided Primary schools and 41 teachers for 46 school less village school (SVS) in Tamenglong district.

All these sanction posting teachers was against the guidelines of schools sanction posting of teachers. This is not a new thing for the schools in hill district of Manipur. This has been practicing since some 20 years back.

While disclosing this to the reporter on Thursday, N Jacob, Zonal Education Officer Tamenglong said every schools in Tamenglong district are facing acute shortage of teachers and bad infrastructures. Adding that there are many school remained defunct due to government apathy.

Even though there were shortages of teachers in every school, N Jacob,  ZEO Tamenglong is expecting good results in forth coming board exam of class X and XII this year. As this year the state government has taken up extra coaching class for X and XII students since 7 January till 25 February 2010. ZEO Tamenglong has opened five coaching centres for class X and XII.

In some schools the villages help to run the school by putting private teachers funded from NREGS and JRY schemes. The state government has engaged some wasted contract basis teachers that cause spoiling the school administration and many students’ lives. Narrating the episode of contract basis teachers ZEO Tamenglong stated that poor parents sent their children to the government schools as some contracting basis teachers are coming to government school.

The state government has engaged only for four to five months and consequently the contract basis teachers left the school and started defunct again spoiling the school administration and students’ lives, he said.

Knowing the bad education policy of the state government the poor cultivators who are working and sweating in the hot sun for daily bread has no other option to send out their children to private run schools with much difficulties.

It is also worth mentioned that due to lack of school in many villages of Tamenglong district poor parents sent out their children to unknown persons who promise to give quality education to other states becomes human traffickers.

In the meantime, the centre team has investigates the implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abyian, SSA schemes in Tamenglong district. The team also inspected some schools in Tamenglong district.

However, the centre refuse to give any comment of their investigation saying that the ministry will provide detail information of SSA implementation in Manipur.

CCRP demands children policy

12 hours, 33 minutes, 6 seconds ago

IMPHAL, Feb 10: Drawing attention of the social welfare minister, Nameirakpam Loken Singh, and seeking immediate intervention for protection of basic inherent rights of the deprived children in the state in the backdrop of the growing issue of trafficking and crimes against women, the Coalition of Children’s Right to Protection, CCRP, Manipur today submitted a memorandum to the minister.
In the memorandum the CCRP placed a charter of demands to ensure improvement in various sectors working to protects right of the children.
It appeal to the concerned authorities to immediately release the outstanding grant-in-aid amount, which has been pending for the last 10 months (from April, 2009 till date) to restore basic needs including food and education of destitute children sheltering in the eight government-aided children homes in the state besides taking up speedy legal action to book and punish culprits who had recently trafficked 19 children to Chennai and 52 children to Keinyakumari form the state, and also to continue with rescue operations at others possible child trafficking destinations.
It also urged for declaring a comprehensive “state policy for children” providing care and protection to chidren affected by conflict, victims of organized violence and children living with HIV AIDS in the forthcoming state Assembly session.
It also urged the government to announce compensation on humanitarian ground for the late Angom Chanbi and her teenage daughter, A. Menaka, 16, of Phayeng village, who were murdered after gang rape. It further called for sponsoring the educational and basic needs of the three orphaned children left behind by Chandbi and protect the right to life and right to education of the socially and economically deprived orphans of the state.
Further it demanded opening a destitute girls’ home, more shelters homes and after-care organizations at the earliest besides functionalizing the existing observation homes in the state.
It asserted to appoint the required Judicial Magistrate of the existing Juvenile Justice Boards in order to make the JJBs functional.
It also called for the implementation of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, ICPS, in the state at the earliest with utmost transparency and accountability, ensure trauma and psychological counseling to traumatised children and mental retarded children.
It also asked for raising an operational Juvenile Justice Fund for the state under Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act 2000 (and its amendment enacted in 2006) and provide financial supports to extremely deprived children.

Children as Target

by by Lena Phanjoubam
The rates of crimes are increasing day by day.
Everyday we come to hear and witness various sorts of crimes being committed-from TV, Radio, Newspaper- murder, rape, human trafficking, abuse, shoot outs-you name it!!.
On the one hand Government are taking up various plans, projects and schemes for the development and upgradation of our society, while on the other hand various sorts of crimes are being committed by perverts, criminals and such-even more so on women and children-the vulnerable lots. People had hoped that all sorts of misfortunes and disasters will be taken along the year 2009 and the coming year 2010 will bring peace and a new ray of hope. But, this is not so.
The New Year has barely started, all sorts of crimes are being witnessed. Like the cases of the recovering of the lifeless bodies of newly born infants-a lifeless body of a baby boy from Thoubal, and in another case-the finding of the dead bodies of two newly born baby girls from Tera Likram Leirak, yet again another lifeless body of a newly born infant found from the Lamphel supermarket, gender unknown as it lower half of its body was found missing (the deeds of some stray dogs). Such heinous crimes those heartless mothers who knew no love or pain –(only for pleasures or some monetary gains or whatever)-having no heart and soul, otherwise who would killed and discard away their own blood so mercilessly without any feeling. For such mothers, life seems only a game. Even animal are far better than them, for they knew how to love, care and protect their kids.
Then, there is the case of S. Sangeeta (34) who was found hanged at the courtyard of her residence. The reason- torture and ill treatment by her husband and his second wife. Which woman would deceit and desertion by her husband, her mentor who had promised to protect and cherish her throughout life, for in our society every married woman viewed their husband as their god, their protector, and if that protection turns against her, ignore her opt for another woman, then who would bear it.  
Then there is the case of rape and murder of a mother and her teenage daughter, who were found brutally raped and murdered by some unknown perverts. Akam ongbi Chanbi Devi (35) a widow and her eldest daughter Memcha (16) a student of class IX, were found abandoned some 800 meters away form their home at Pahyeng. Till date, who were behind these unthinkable crimes, remains unknown. Chandbi Devi had left behind three more children, two girls and a son. These poor children!! Ex-gratia may be given to them-even their education may be sponsored but there will remain a huge gap in their lives- the love, caring attitude, nurture, affection of their beloved mother-no one can substitute her or the love of their elder sister.
And, yet in another case, another woman, R.K Ratanmala (26) was also found raped and murdered by her boyfriend, a married man with children, at least in this case, the man surrendered himself to the police. An irate mob burnt down his house, and in the process some other adjacent houses were also burnt down, accidentally. But is the justice being duly delivered? Only time will tell.
Another issue which is still prevalent in our society is the issue of human trafficking, mostly women and children. In spite of various preventive measures and precautions, the crime or the act of trafficking is still going on in last month, there is the case of the rescuing of 76 children (54 from Manipur) who were found trafficked from Manipur to and Assam. They were rescued by the child welfare committee of Tamil Nadu. It is their good fortune amidst their misfortune that they were found and rescued in time, otherwise what would have become of them, the answer is unthinkable.
And in this month, another 3 children from the state who were trafficked to Chennai were rescued by the combined team of the CWC, Tamil Nadu and Manipur.
It seems that the preventive/precautionary measures being taken up by the Government, and other organisation is not adequate enough, otherwise why is such crime happening time and again.
The rate of crimes and conflicts are on the rise everyday. How, why, by whom? Questions everywhere. And there is no one who is capable of giving any satisfying answers. There is lack of awareness among the masses, lack of co-operation and co-ordination. Everyone is blaming everyone else, the Govt., the NGOs, the Human Rights and Child Rights Activists. No one is ready to accept the blame or to step forth. 
If this thing continues, how do we expect to solve the issues? Someone has to be bold enough to come forward, take the lead, awake the sleeping masses. Instead of waiting for someone or the other to solve the matter, we need to take it as our responsibilities. Let the government do their duties from their side. We the public also needs to extend our helping hand.
NGOs, organizations, Human Rights Activist needs to join hands, have proper network, co-ordination and work together for the cause.
Doctors and staffs of the psychiatric department needs to come out of their respective clinics and hospitals give mass awareness and counseling-for many crimes are born of a pervert mind, of a mentally disturbed mind.
Police can also do their level best to look for clues, investigate the crimes through ever nook and corner and book the culprit. They can also be on the alert to prevent any sort of crimes.
Above all, parents and teachers should educate their wards on sex education, moral values, rules, and regulations, cultures and norms of our society. So that they grow into a well cultured and well behaved persons.

Crimes Against Women and Children

by Keisam Pradipkumar
My recent visits to Ukhrul district and Phayeng village stirred me to chew over on the clandestine nature of human trafficking, compelled migrations, unabated heinous crimes against hapless women and children vis a vis  globalization and prevailing system of political and economic injustice. As saying goes, that seeing is believable, I made attempts to scan what would be behind the scene I did see.  What I saw at Ukhrul was nothing but the visiblemass exodus of young girls to metro cities of the country. Was it that case of brain drain  as most of them speak English, smart and energetic;  or migration by choice  for better social and economic options, or was it linking with human trafficking for varied reasons in a clandestine way? Appallingly, even a remote village with a small population of 270 had unofficial record of group migration of 20 young girls to outside states. During the past one decade or so, several hundreds of girls had reportedly abandoned their native villages for their destination to different strange cities. 
Every one agrees that Tangkhul girls are admired for exceptionally nice-looking, hard working, and much sought after for warm hospitality to the guests. My probing mind got jolted, this time, as wherever we reached at any village, we were served   tea or warm water only by a horde of   middle aged women, not by young girls. My question was - where had all the teenagers just vanished off the face of the earth? It poked me to remember the shocking profile of AIDS devastated Uganda, where its entire younger population (those who are in the sexually active and productive age group) was inflicted and engulfed by HIV/AIDS pandemic, leaving behind surviving small grandchildren with grandpa and grandmas only.
Observing the hardships faced by underprivileged people, It was starkly evident that globalization and urbanization have rendered a ripple effect  to the impoverished economy, particularly the hill economy, which is utterly depended on cyclic Jhoom cultivation and diminishing forest products. The strait jacketing Globalization process in Manipur, under which no productive base infrastructures are embedded, truly a developmental aggression, brings out new sophisticated lifestyle based on costly consumerism. Since there is no equal distribution of economic opportunities, globalized commodities  only widen the gapping chasm between have and have-nots. Many families could not meet the ever rising demands of a costly globalized lifestyle. While the have-nots being lured, try to embrace the upcoming neo liberal economic challenges risking one’s own life, compromising moral and ethical obligations. Many promising young girls from valley and hills who dared to struggle for a better life in the globalised market, ended with terribly upset stories, as they were betrayedand exploited after being lured.
Interacting with some villagers, they revealed that these vanishing youths left for Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and other cities, where they have reportedly managed to get good jobs being  offered by different “Companies”. But villagers could not promptly give the details ofcompanies, job specifications, personal security etc. It is a fact that girls from north-east particularly from Manipur are still distained to bear the brunt of racial discriminations in mainland cities of Mera Bharat Mahan, specially the capital Delhi. I could read the apprehensions of the village elders that were buried under their sly smiles. Because the barbaric expression of racial discrimination such as physical assault, verbal abuse, sexual harassments, gang rape and murder as perpetrated by some mainland Indians had inflicted  many Naga and Meitei girls. One  Ramchanphy Hongray (19) from Ukhrul who was murdered  October last year apparently for resisting rape attempt at the apartment of 80/A at Munirka, Delhi being the latest victim.
The other day when I visited Phayeng, a Meitei schedule caste village, I met those traumatized three children left behind by a young widow, who was murdered along with her teenaged daughter after gang rape. The gruesome murder only depicted the magnitude of immeasurably insecure lives of socially deprived section of the society, such as widows, destitute children  and orphans in our society. That widow struggled to afford her fourchildren’s education, who all were studying at Donbosco School, challenging every foreseeable constraints and vulnerabilities she went through. That spirit and courage deserved reverence. However, the fragile co-operation of the locality in addition to laxity of police impeded the progress of crime investigation on the murder case. It’s an awful picture.
Interestingly, security forces came up to showcase their  good Samaritan gesture overriding legal procedures, when they dumped the three children left behind by late Chanbi to an orphanage.  Next turn is of revolutionary justice of underground outfits, if any, that also seemingly a far cry for the downtrodden people. State or nonstate, armed or unarmed groups – it makes less different, to the deprived people nowadays, for them ultimate justice is being throttled on many cases. The present conflict torn society, where rule of law got spirally collapsed, it’s a hey-day only for criminals.
Then, do we have legitimate moral rights to be proud of “Nupi Lan” (women’s uprising) fought against British imperialist and for the contemporary “Meira Paibee Movement” against narcotics, alcoholism and human rights violations?  Why should we take to mean “Ima Keithel” one of the largest markets in the world exclusively run by women, as a symbol ofOriental liberal society and unique social status of Manipuri women?  Would Sharamila  be happy with  the prestigious titles like  “Iron Lady” or “Nura Temshingnabi” when the same society who conferred  her the titles still continues to murder and gang rape of many hapless women and girls?
It is the high time to redefine the true value of campaign and observations, self introspection, redesigning the advocacy strategies, refocusing to outcomes by avoiding  the tokenism and ceremonial aspects from the activities. Ever escalating crimes against women  and children just during and after the observances, including the recently held Children’s day on 14November, 16 days Activism Against Gender violence Campaign started from 25 November, International Human Rights day on 10 December, Nupi Lan on 12 December speak volumes of the ineffectiveness of these observances, rallies and consultations so far. Are we somewhat misfiring or do we get backfired? 
 State   fails to take up short and immediate measures on the recent Phayeng rape and murder incident. There has been no effective crime investigation, culprits are moving scot-free, besides no rehabilitative process for the children left behind by the widow is taken up. Consequently, judiciary and police investigation could not offer trust to the public, who have opted an alternative justice – mob trail and mob justice. State police are pro-active only to counter insurgency operations under the shadow of impunity of AFSPA. Culprits of many heinous crimes hardly get punitive punishment. Highly exposed case of Miss Manorama, allegedly murdered after gang rape and custodial torture of one Miss Naobi Chanu by state police  commandos passed off without awarding any punishment to the  culprits. It is stated that In India, 22 women were killed each day in dowry-related murders in 2007 while, In Guatemala, two women are murdered, on average, each day. Nobody knows- how many of Manipuri women and  girl children must have been killed, tortured, raped, harassed, kidnapped and trafficked each day on this earth? 

Ukhrul children home dry of state grant

IMPHAL, Jan 31: Coalition on Children’s Right to Protection (CCRP), Manipur, recently conducted a two-day field visit on January 29 and 30 to assess the condition of children in Ukhrul district as per the guidelines of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA).
The only government aided children home of Ukhrul district located at Alungtang was found to be on holiday with all the children sent out on leave since December 23 last year.
According to the members of management committee, the state government has not sanctioned the grant-aid for the last eight months.
The members of management committee have been contributing regularly to keep the home functional but from the last week of December the home ceased to function mainly due to financial constraints.
They said that all the 25 children at home had to be sent out on leave on the pretext of Christmas and other village festivals and added the home would function again after receiving the grant-aid from the social welfare department.
A joint application of all the eight government aided homes of Manipur has already been submitted to the social welfare department urging for timely release of grant-aid and other funds along with the implementation of Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in the state, the members noted.
Assistant coordinator of CCRP, Athokpam Chinglemba asserted that non release of grant-aid for running children homes by the state government is a violation of survival and protection rights of the children.
CCRP also visited the primary schools of Koso and Leishi village of Phungyar assembly constituency. These two schools were established long back in the 1960s but the government has not taken up anything for the development of the schools. The schools have no proper building and infrastructure and lack the necessary teaching staff with just one or two teachers. 
The villagers stated that education in not possible in their villages and so the parents have to send their wards to Ukhrul town or Imphal for education. The poor children who cannot study in towns are often engaged in agrcultural works thereby depriving their right to education, they added.
However, a change can be seen in the village education system in the last two years with the initiative of Participatory Action for Sustainable Development Organisation (PASDO) which is taking up the communitization of education programme under the sponsorship of MISERIOR, Germany, they noted.
The village education system has been revived to some extent with the induction of such programme. The village primary schools which were once defunct are now functioning with about 25 students. The welfare and development of the schools have been entrusted to the village education committee (VEC) with some financial support from PASDO, said H. Thotchuilla, executive secretary of PASDO, Ukhrul.
CCRP also interacted with the officials of district administration and social activists during the two-day visit.
Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Ukhrul block, Timna Hongray stated the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is being taken up effectively in the district with about 800 anganwadi centres and 200 mini anganwadi centres functioning actively in the district.
The honorarium of workers and helpers along with the required nutritional items of the anganwadi centres are dispatched regularly from the department but there are reports that the anganwadi workers are facing great inconvenience during transaction at the bank as the clearance takes nearly one month, she maintained.
Regarding the sub-standard food items being supplied to the anganwadi centres, she said the food items are supplied by FCI and so the department has nothing to do with the quality of the supplied items.
Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Ukhrul, Wungpam Kashar maintained that there are lots of child related issues in the district like drug abuse, trafficking and child labour but the people are unwilling to consult and take help from the police.
The police also needs to be sensitized on Juvenile Justice Act for safeguarding the child rights but at present the role of police in juvenile cases is limited due to lack of observation home and non-functional of the juvenile justice board (JJB) which is supposed to handle the cases of juvenile delinquency, the SDPO noted.
Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Ukhrul district, Gajendra Prasad Mohanty maintained that protection of child rights is a very complicated issue having social and economic implications.
Non-functional of government schools may be termed as a major factor for high rate of school drop-out in the Ukhrul district which again leads to various other social issues of child delinquency, child labour, drug abuse and even trafficking, he noted.
Drug abuse is on the rise amongst children who have come to the town from far off villages for studying. They stay in rented houses without any parental supervision and guidance and as a result most of them begin to use narcotic drugs considering as a fashion and from peer pressure, Gajendra stated.
Also many girls from the villages have abandoned their homes in search of lucrative jobs in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc. and in many cases they were found in prostitution, he added.
All social issues related to child rights can be resolved only when the Juvenile Justice Act is implemented effectively for care, support and protection of children in the state, the chairperson of CWC maintained strictly.

Dharna being staged to demand punishment of the Mother-Daughter duo killers

IMPHAL, Jan 28: Con-demning the recent brutal murder of a mother and her daughter at Phayeng Makha Leikai, Meira Paibis of Tairenpokpi, Sairenkhul and Atongkhunou jointly staged a wakat meepham at the ground of Tairenpokpi Youth Club today.

Angom Ongbi Chanbi and her daughter Meneka alias Ibemcha were abducted by unidentified persons from their house in the intervening nights of January 12 and 13. Their bodies were found on January 23. It is suspected that they may have been raped before they were murdered.
Organised under the aegis of Tairenpokpi Women Society, the protestors demanded the Government to book the perpetrators of the crime and award them exemplary punishment.
They also called upon the Government to take the responsibility for the upbringing of three surviving children of Chanbi.
Placards inscribed with slogans like ‘We condemn brutal murder of Chanbi and Meneka’, ‘Respect the rights of women’, ‘Ensure protection of women’, ‘We want to live in peace’, etc were seen being used at the protest demonstration.
Participating in the protest demonstration, 60-year old Moirangthem Keina-hanbi of Sairemkhul said that the incident of brutal murder of Chanbi and her daughter Meneka has send shockwaves among the women not only in Phayeng area but also in other neighbouring villages.
‘‘We strongly condemned the incident and to ensure such incidents are not repeated the perpetrators of the crime should be arrested and given exemplary punishment. Such beastly beings should have no place in human society’’, she said.
Kh Punima, another protestor, called upon the Government for providing necessary assistance to the three surviving kids of Chanbi.
‘When there is lot of hardship for children who have lost either one of their parents, lost of both the parents may lead them to go astray’, she pointed out. Many of the protestors also cried in condemnation of the brutal murder.

Natl panel to take up child trafficking issue

New Delhi, January 27: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is rushing a team to Chennai to take up the issue of trafficked children from Assam and Manipur. The decision to despatch a team to Tamil Nadu came following pressure from NGOs to institute a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry on the large scale trafficking from Assam and North-Eastern States.

Chairperson of the NCPCR, Shanta Sinha told newsmen that a team has been assigned to visit Tamil Nadu to take up the issue with the State Government.

The Commission is also going to convene a meeting of the North Eastern States and the destination States to work out a coordination plan for State to State mechanism. “We are concerned about the North-Eastern States,” said the chairperson.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Shakti Vahini and Bikalpa Dhara also met the chairperson with a demand to institute an inquiry and take necessary action. In a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the two NGOs called for a CBI probe into the whole issue of trafficking.

Trafficking from the North-East India and Eastern Himalaya region is continuously on the rise and needs a detailed investigation. There are all the possibilities that organised gangs have started operating in the area to traffic women and children.

Since these crimes are spread over different States it would be beneficial that this investigation is done by federal agency like the CBI, the NGOs said.

It was also pointed out that the Chennai incident is not an isolated case, in July last the Kolkata police had rescued 25 North-East children who were going towards Andhra Pradesh.

Similarly, there was a media report about the plight of 1600 children who had been shifted to schools in Karnataka. On August 5, 2008, Nagaland girls were rescued from traffickers in Malaysia. One trafficker was caught in Nagaland but nothing happened.

“These are very disturbing trends,” said Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini. At least 76 children hailing from Manipur and Assam were rescued by Child Welfare Committee, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu from a children’s home in Magappair, Tamil Nadu.

This is the second time that CWC had rescued trafficked children from Manipur in Tamil Nadu. All the rescued children were rescued from an unregistered orphanage called Bedesta Blessing Home located at Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, the CWC claimed to have rescued 17 from a Children Home in Magappair, Tamil Nadu few days back. Reports have it that Bedesta Blessing Home lacked both infrastructure and enough food to feed the children and the crackdown was done by the members of CWC of Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.

Out of the 76 children, 54 of them (all boys) belong to Manipur while the remaining hail from Assam, the source said adding the children were staying at BB Home since July, 2009.