The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has taken up a suo-moto case against the "forced shifting" of Kuki families from Imphal allegedly by the state authorities.
The Commission on Wednesday issued a notice to the respondents of the case, namely the chief secretary, state of Manipur, commissioner (Home), state of Manipur, DGP, Manipur and SP Imphal East to submit the status report regarding the allegations made against the state.
The commission took up the suo-moto case on the basis of a news article published in the daily newspaper Times of India, a national daily, with the headline, ‘State authority forcibly shifted the lone Kuki family from the Imphal valley.’
The report mentioned that “The Manipur government evacuated in a swift post-midnight operation on Saturday the last remaining 10 Kuki families living in the heart of Imphal, who had displayed unwavering courage in the face of relentless threats and looming communal violence to defiantly cling to their homes in the New Lambulane locality the past four months.
Reverend Prim Vaiphei, 78-year-old clergymen and the oldest among the 24 evacuees, said he won’t forget the knocks at the door by security personnel, as he and his family members were jolted out of sleep, not given any time to pack their belongings, and herded into bulletproof Casper military vehicles.”
Considering the facts as stated in the news item, the Commission issued notice to the respondents to submit the status report regarding the allegations made against the state in the news item.
Notice is returnable on October 3; respondents shall submit the status report on or before the return date, the notice stated.
Meanwhile the Commissioner (Home), government of Manipur shall direct the DGP, Manipur to protect the residence of Kuki family, who are allegedly forcibly shifted from the Imphal valley, till they resettle at Imphal either by their own or by the government of Manipur, it added.
