New Delhi, December 03: Dr HT Sangliana, an MP from Bangalore North Constituency has severely castigated the Union Defence Minister, Home Minister and the Manipur Governor Dr SS Sidhu, along with State DGP for inaction regarding civilian deaths due to landmines planted by militant organisations in Churachandpur district of Manipur.

He also issued a note in which he appealed on behalf of the innocent villagers of Churachandpur and Chandel districts to "those who planted the landmines to remove the same before another innocent life is lost".

In a taped conversation with members of the Zomi Human Rights Foundation, Delhi Cell at his Delhi residence last night, Dr Sangliana was unsparing of Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who, he accused of 'displaying pride and personal ego' when queried on what action was taken on the matter.

Dr Sangliana said that he had met Mukherjee on November 24 at the latter's office to enquire whether there was any action taken on the letter he had sent way back on August 18, 2005, and on receipt of an 'SOS call' reporting that yet another person had been killed and one injured in a blast, the day earlier.

"On inquiry by this correspondent as to why he (Defence Minister) has not acted on the request to send the landmine sweepers who are available only with the Army and not with the Police, Mukherjee again stated that 'I do not want to risk the life of my boys; I will not take action because you are dictating me etc," Dr Sangliana said.

"Had Mukherjee taken even a minimal humanitarian action on the request made four months earlier, at least 6 victims would, perhaps, have been spared," he added.

He also said that while the Defence Minister's official response letters were dated November 25, the same reached him by Courier only on 29th November.

The former 'Super Cop', who is a legendary figure in Karnataka state, also stated that he had telephoned the Manipur governor Dr SS Sidhu on November 23 and requested him to direct Army area Commanders to deploy Landmine sweepers in the affected areas.

"The Governor promised to do the needful, but did absolutely nothing and I ascertained that through a telephonic talk with him the next day", he charged.

Sangliana said that he telephoned the Manipur State DGP too on the same day and was shocked to learn that not to speak of not doing anything, the Manipur DGP had not even known such unfortunate happenings and deaths of innocent villagers.

"I put down the phone, realizing that there is no use arguing with him about it," he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Manipur Government had signed an MoU with the Zomi Students Federation on Aug 25 in which it promises to take immediate steps to sanitize the entire Churachandpur at the earliest.

Appealing to the Union and State Govts and the media to come forward at least now, Dr.Sangliana assured the ZHRF delegation of all help and said that if still no action is taken in the next 5 or 6 days, a fresh, public campaign will be initiated.

Dr Sangliana is off to China today for a five-day private tour and will be back in the capital on November 8, 2005.Meanwhile, sources from the Zomi Human Rights Foundation, Delhi Cell said that the rights organization is working with some human rights lawyers to file a fresh appeal on the case before the National Human Rights Commission.

Comment