Tahamzam, February 6 (MExN): The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), representing the Naga and tribal youth and students in Manipur, has welcomed the public admission of the killing of an unarmed Ch. Sanjit in the heart of Imphal city by Th. Herojit, a senior constable in the Manipur Police Commando.
In a press release, ANSAM alleged that the act was carried out on the “order” of his superior officer and “approval” of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of the Government of Manipur (GoM).
“Th. Herojit has admitted of many other such killings and he is but only one of the many in the Manipur Police Commando/IRB who have been licensed to carry out extra judicial executions by the GoM, without the due process of law,” the student association contended.
ANSAM further cited the May 6, 2010 incident in which two unarmed Naga students, Loshou and Chakho, were shot dead at Mao Gate and more than hundred protestors, mostly women folks, were “maimed by bullets and violence”; the August 30, 2014 incident where two young unarmed Nagas, Mayopam and Ramkashing, were executed at Tangkhul Naga Long ground in Ukhrul, and more than 30 civilians “shot and brutalized”; and the August 31 and September 1, 2015 incidents where seven unarmed defenders of tribal rights of Churachandpur were killed and many “violently incapacitated”.
The above killings and violence were committed against Nagas and tribal people protesting against the “hegemony” of the oppressive GoM, the association maintained while also insisting that these instances “speak of the response” of the GoM to constitutional demands and legitimate protest of the tribals in Manipur.
Claiming that frequent bombings, fake encounters and killings takes place and is generally accepted as normal in Imphal valley, ANSAM noted that the disturbed area act has been lifted from Imphal by the GoM and developmental programmes and growth of Imphal continues undisturbed by the law and order situation.
“But in the Naga and tribal hill districts, which is peaceful, except for state violence against unarmed tribal protestors, such as those mentioned above, the GoM continues with the Disturbed Area Act/Armed Forces Special Powers and any democratic form of protests by the tribals against injustice and suppression are responded with violence and killings,” ANSAM contended.
“Law and order situation is cited as unfavourable reason for development of the hill areas and the gap between the valley and the hills that is perpetuated over the years gets wider,” it stated.
“It is important to note that the same force, empowered by the same GoM operates with impunity in both the Imphal valley and the tribal hills but with different consequences and targeted results on human lives and also on development and social front,” the student body observed.
Demanding immediate action from the Government of India in restoring the “rule of law and constitutional rights”, and intervention, as already demanded, with an “alternative arrangement” for the Nagas in Manipur outside the Government of Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue, ANSAM insisted that the Manipur Government, instead of safeguarding the life, property and rights of the citizen, has become the “willful violator” of the fundamental right to life of the people guaranteed under the constitution.
Maintaining that the Government of India cannot limit its responsibility to seeking clarification and explanation from the GoM, the apex Naga student body in Manipur stated, “If the Government of India does not intervene then it abdicates its responsibilities as custodian of the constitution and becomes an abettor of constitutional crime.”
