While the Zomi Human Rights Foundation, Delhi Cell is relieved that army operations have now been underway in the Tipaimukh and Thanlon sub-divisions of Churachandpur district to root out militant elements and clear the area of landmines, which have been claiming scores of innocent lives in the last more than one year, it is shocked to hear reports of the Indian army forcibly recruiting civilians to mark landmine affected areas. According to news reports, Mr. Lhunthang Haokip, 25, of Thenzawl village(Under Thanlon sub-division) sustained grievous injuries in an explosion while forced to assume that mine-detecting role on January 24, 06. Reports even said that while one injured armyman in the same blast was airlifted for medical attention, the injured civilian was simply denied that facility.
It is the duty of all law abiding citizens to offer cooperation to security forces who are being sent to secure them from militants and landmines. But, if the civilians, who are presently at the receiving end of underground militants’ terror reign, and who are waiting expectantly for succour, are subjected again to that kind of inhuman treatment and gross power abuse by those who are supposed to bring succour to them, where will they turn to?
The ZHRF, Delhi Cell has been in the forefront of demanding army deployment in Churachandpur district to root out militant elements and sanitize the area of landmines. But, it cannot and will not stand by and watch while the fundamental rights of the poor citizens are trampled upon, be they by the militants or by the Indian army. The Cell has already lodged a strong protest with the concerned Army authorities at the Corps Headquarters in Dimapur.
The Cell condemns this cowardly conduct on the part of the Army in the highest term. We demanded that investigations be conducted on the incident, adequate compensations be extended to the victim and appropriate penal action be taken against the erring army personnel so that such horrifying incidents will not recur in the future.
Media Department, ZHRF Delhi Cell
