Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Sep 06:
Raising serious concern over the continued detention of Threatened Indigenous People's Society (TIPS) general secretary Leitanthem Umakanta and publicity secretary Yangkokpam Langamba, Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has observed that the State Government is quite callous to undue harassment and victimisation of innocent civilians.
A statement issued by DESAM remarked that the continued detention of the two human rights defenders is an act to be ashamed of before the international community.
Terming such acts as an attempt to disable all civil society organisations so that it can pursue its agenda without any hindrance, it compared the present day State to the reign of terror under Hitler's Nazism.
Saying that DESAM would never accept any attempt to forfeit the basic rights and dignity of the citizens, it urged the State Government to retrace its steps to abolish all civil society organisations and to release Umakanta and Langamba immediately.
Peeved with the prolonged detention of Umakanta and Langamba, the Sega Road Leimajam Leikai Women's Welfare Association, Imphal alleged that the State Government is totally oblivious to the gross violation of human rights by security forces and has become a completely failed State, said a press release.
It reiterated its demand to release the duo without any condition.
Likewise, the Heingang United Clubs' Organisation while asserting that human rights activists in Manipur are viewed with a jaundiced eye under the mask of Indian democracy, said that the TIPS executives were staunch defenders of human rights violations in Manipur.
It also warned the State Government to affect the release of Umakanta and Langamba without any condition before the issue goes out of its hand.
Alleging that Umakanta and Langamba are being lodged in prison under false charges, the Kongpal Laihiden Lamjing Meira Paibi Women's Welfare Association said that TIPS was one of the front runner civil organisations in the State making all efforts to highlight rampant violation of human rights before the international community.
It also demanded release of the two unconditionally.
Conveying serious concerned over the prolonged detention of Umakanta and Langamba in the police custody, the Luwangshangbam Godown Leikai Women's Welfare Association and the Kanglei Youth and Rural Reformative Organisation have also urged the State Government to release the duo immediately.