GUWAHATI: The Congress in Manipur on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), alleging human rights violations in the violence-hit state and seeking the Commission’s intervention.
A delegation, led by Manipur Congress Legislature Party leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh, lodged the complaint with the NHRC in New Delhi. The delegation also met its Chairperson Justice V Ramasubramanian.
In the complaint, the Congress highlighted human rights violations arising out of the recent abduction of Kuki and Naga civilians, ongoing economic blockades on national highways, and resultant non-availability of LPG cooking gas along with other essential items and medicines in the state.
The Congress urged the NHRC to ensure that the Manipur Chief Minister presents a detailed report within 24 hours on the whereabouts of the abducted persons.
The party urged the Commission to direct the state’s Chief Secretary to ensure the safe release of all the abducted persons within 24 hours and present action taken reports on the incidents of abduction, economic blockades and non-availability of LPG cooking gas, other essential items and medicines.
Further, the Congress urged the Commission to direct the Manipur Director General of Police for swift and effective actions against the abductors of the civilians by arresting them and registering an FIR within 24 hours.
On May 13, three church leaders from the Thadou community were killed in an ambush in the Kangpokpi district. Later that day, different groups abducted “more than 38” Kuki and Naga individuals from different places.
Two days later, 14 Nagas and 14 Kukis were released by their abductors. Naga organisations said six more Nagas were held captive by Kuki groups. Similarly, Kuki organisations said there was no trace of 14 more Kukis after they were abducted.
Last week, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh stated that the National Investigation Agency would probe the cases relating to the abduction of the six Naga villagers and the killings of the three church leaders.