The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR), a statutory body established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act 2005, has urgently called upon all communities, stakeholders, agencies engaged in the ongoing conflict in the state of Manipur since May, 2023, to undeniably respect and safeguard the right to life and every fundamental rights, dignity and safety of innocent children and women.
A press release by Keisam Pradipkumar, chairperson of MCPCR, termed it “depressing” that in many incidents children and women, belonging to both warring communities have lost their lives during the conflict.
Moreover, the recent incident of abducting six civilians, including three minors and three women from Jakuradhor Karong, PS Borobekra, Jiribam district on November 11, 2024 has deepened the sense of insecurity, frustration and inexpressible anguish amongst the masses, whose minds have already been seriously shocked by the brunt of the 18 months long conflict, it stated.
MCPCR highlighted that as per a complaint filed to the police, it is said that the 6 persons were allegedly kidnapped by Kuki Militants at about 2.45 pm of November 11, 2024. The armed militants, who launched a fierce armed attack on the CRPF personnel posted there, besides burning down 13 shops and houses of Meiteis, killed two elderly persons of Meitei community.
The concerned Police station has taken up a Suo motu cognizance of the case under FIR No. 29(11)2024 BBK PS U/S 103/113(1)(a)(ii)/324(5)/313/332(a)/3(5) BNS & 25(I-C) A. Act.
MCPCR considers that targeting to innocent children, helpless women and elderly persons are the grave violation of International humanitarian laws including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), UN Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict etc., the commission stated.
All the children and women related laws of the country also unequivocally called for protection of unarmed innocent children and women equally, stated the commission and strongly condemned all kinds of violence targeting children and womenfolk, irrespective of any community or ethnic group they may belonged to, as they are not combatants, but innocent, helpless victims of the unrest situation.
“Therefore, in the true spirit of promoting harmony and humanity, we make this solemn urgent appeal to those responsible to immediately release the abducted women and children safely without any condition on humanitarian ground”, stated MCPCR.
MCPCR urged chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR); chairperson, National Commission for Women; chief secretary, Government of Manipur; Director General of Police Manipur; security advisor to Government of Manipur; deputy Commissioner, Jiribam district and Superintendent of Police Jiribam to take up all possible measures to rescue the abducted minors and women safely at the earliest possible time.
