Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) wants to know who gave the command to use excessive force against students staging peaceful rallies in Imphal and has asked the Imphal West SP to submit a report on it.
The commission also asked the Commissioner (Home) to inform it how much interim compensation could be provided to the injured students on or before the next date.
The commission took up the case based on two complaints filed by Ningthoujam Jit Singh, of Singjamei Okram Leikai, Imphal West District and one Mukul Phukon of Assam, Shivsagar, subject matter of complaints being inhuman and brutal abuse by the armed forces and security forces to the peaceful students/protestors as alleged.
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The complaint was that on September 26 and 27, there was a peaceful rally organised by the students on the issue of abduction of two minors namely Hemanjit Singh and Linthoingambi Hijam allegedly by the Kuki militants after photos of their dead bodies surfaced in the social media.
The complainant in his petition also alleged that the state police as well as central forces used excessive force without any warning to the peaceful students, while they were taking out a rally, as a result of which about 18 students were injured.
According to a complainant, viral photos showed personnel of Jat Regiment severely assaulting a student by forcing him to lie flat on the road at Moirangkhom, Imphal West. The complaint also mentioned other cases of assault of students.
Considering the facts of both the complaint cases as well as perusal of the news in the local newspapers, the commission asked DGP, Manipur to submit a status report on or before November 9, 2023.
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It has also been brought to the notice of the Commissionthat on 28 September 2023, the Director General of Police, Manipur has already constituted a Committee to look into the various report/allegations of use of excess force by the security forces during maintenance of law and order situations in the last few days in Imphal area.
It also appears from the newspaper that the state government has taken responsibility for treatment of the injured students. Therefore, the commission is of the opinion that it is not necessary to ask the respondents to appear before the commission at this stage, if necessary by a team of the commission may also physically see the injured persons, if any of them is presently in any hospital at Imphal.
