National Commission for Protection of Child Rights investigates child encounter killing in Imphal West District
Imphal, 19th May 2012
In an unprecedented step, for the first time, a team of the National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights (NCPCR), North East Cell led by the Chairperson Prof. Shantha Sinha and accompanied by Dr. L.
Mishra, Special Adviser (North East Cell) NCPCR; Shri D.R. Kaarthikeyan, former Director, CBI and
DG, NHRC; Shri Ajay Kumar, Project Coordinator (RTE) NCPCR; Shri Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Sr.
Consultant, NCPCR and Shri Santosh Chakma, Consultant, Asian Centre for Human Rights is visiting
Imphal from the 18thto the 20thMay, 2012.
The visit was scheduled to investigate into the alleged encounter killings of children in Imphal West
District Manipur.
The investigating team of the NCPCR is visiting Manipur in response to a complaint made by the Centre
for Organisation Research and Education (CORE), Manipur regarding the alleged extra judicial
execution of Master (L) Ahanthem Amujao 16 years old boy of Sawombung at Khuman Palli, Imphal
West by the Imphal West Commandos.
The team conducted a formal hearing at the Hotel Imphal on Friday, 18th May, 2012 and met with the
family members and other witnesses of Master (L) Ahanthem Amujao. During the hearing the NCPCR
also took up the case of Master Sonkhopao Mate (16) year old boy from Chandel district who was
allegedly tortured by Assam Rifles.
Following the hearing, the NCPCR team had a consultation with the NGOs of Manipur including
members of the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) of Chandel, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Imphal West
and Imphal East to discussed related issues of protection of children in ‘disturbed’ areas or armed conflict
situations.
During the NGOs consultation the Chairperson announced that a special North East Cell has been
recently opened at the NCPCR.
The NGOs Consultation was facilitated by the Civil Societies Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur
and the UN (CSCHR).CSCHR also submitted a petition regarding 92 documented cases of extrajudicial
executions of children in Manipur from 1979 till 6th Feb. 2012 with a prayer to the Commission to take
up urgent steps regarding these cases for the end of justice.
The issues discussed impunity in the context of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, various lapses
and lacunae in the procedures to be taken up by the Government in cases of culpable homicide involving
children in accordance to the guidelines of the Supreme Court, the National Human Rights Commission
and the Code of Criminal Procedures (CrPC); the need to assert the supremacy of The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 (amended 2006) over AFSPA with regard to children in conflict with the law and involved in the armed conflict in Manipur and other parts of India; and the need to develop a “Standard Operating
Procedure” to be adopted by NCPCR to deal with complaints relating to “encounter deaths” of children.
The team will meet Deputy Commissioners & Superintendent of Police of Chandel, Tamenglong and Imphal West, Home Secretary, Chief Secretary, Home Minister and the Chief Minister of the State on the 19th May, 2012 and will leave on the 20th May, 2012 after a Press Conference at the Hotel Classic at 10:00 A.M.
Dr. Laifungbam Debabrata Roy
Convenor
CORE Centre for Organisation Research & Education
Indigenous Peoples’ Centre for Policy and Human Rights in India’s Eastern Himalayan Territories
NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations
1st Floor, Ibotombi Building, Babupara
Imphal 795001, MANIPUR India
Tel/Fax: +91 385 244 13 19
Website: www.coremanipur.org
Email: [email protected]
* This info was sent by Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE) who can be contacted at laifungbam(at)coremanipur(dot)org
This Press Release was posted on May 19, 2012.
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