Visiting women`s team blasts govt

IMPHAL, Aug 20: The complete absence of justice and a reciprocal prevalence of state sponsored terrorism are triggering insurgency in Manipur said Shanti Das member of the visiting delegation of the National United Women Front (NUWF).

As the educational institutions, markets, working places and other essential services are very often paralyzed by the havoc of armed forces, the people are not even allowed to procure essential items for their day to day needs, they said.

Shanti Das in a press meet held this evening at Hotel Anand Continental maintained that it is a shame that Indian police continue still use abuse and threat method used by the police in the British Raj.

The approach of the police even tday that use of unlawful methods, including illegal detention and torture, are necessary tactics of crime investigation and law enforcement.

She further noted that security forces are bypassing the law and killing people as suspected militants instead of bringing them before a court.

In the name of national security and armed forces morale, the state protects abusers and leave Manipuris with no remedy to secure justice she said.

This can be termed as nothing else by state sponsored terrorism, she said.

Citing other examples she said since the killing of Manorama Devi in 2004 to this day, Sanjiv, Loitengbam alias Tonda, Rabina, a seven month pregnant women, Chungkham Sanjit and many other innocent have suffered unthinkable fate at the hands of the state forces.

She said it is surprising that inspite of international intervention, the Central government is not responding adequately to end the relentless violence and impunity in Manipur.

In order to bring justice to the people of Manipur and especially to the women of the state the NUWF will do everything possible she pledged.

Tomorrow she will meet state Governor Gurbachan Jagat and submit all the reports she got from the JAC and other civil society organisations.

Later she will leave for Delhi where she will approach the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the President of India Pratibha Patil to look into the matter and bring justice to the people.

Earlier the team of two working president Shanti Das and general secretary, Maria Montia, soon after their arrived in the state capital inspected the site of the BT Road carnage where two perons including an innocent women were killed and five other were injured.

One of the victims, Chungkham Sanjit, an ex-militant, was killed in an alledged fake encounter by the state police commandos on the day.

Later the two visited the residence of late Ch Sanjit at Khurai Sajor Leikai and met with the families and representatives of JAC.

During the meeting, the NGO representatives expressed their concerned over the manner in which Manipur state which have been described variously as the Jewel of India and Switzerland of East, is transforming into a mindless and remarkably violent society.

Both also expressed their concerned on the reports of every day killings, and unleashing of state terrorism by the security forces through fake encounters killing which has claimed several innocent persons already.

The two also observed that such acts of anti democratic activities committed by the state law inforcing bodies against the general public need to by intervented by the Centre immediately

They further suggested the JAC members and public to carry on with their democratic agitations till justice is done by the state government.

They said the women of the state are the hope for the return of a justiceable society and with it normalcy in Manipur/

Later, the JAC represtatives submitted a brief reports of the BT Road firing and their standing demands which includes the resignation of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on moral ground, as well as punishment to guilty police personnel including DGP, SSP and Adl Sp for misguiding the 60 MLAs and the public about the incident on the floor of the state Assembly.

They also said the practice of the government, both of the Centre as well as the stae, of awarding gallantary medals for killing innocent people in fake encounter should be stopped immediately. They also want the AFSPA to be removed from the soil of the state.

The NGO delgation assured they would submit their reprot to the Prime Minister and President of India upon their return to News Delhi.