Rights bodies and CSOs seek clarification from CM

Imphal, August 30: A group of rights bodies and civil society organisations has urged the chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh to clarify on a news report that the Manipur police department allegedly collected funds from majority of its junior and senior ranks to fight the Impending case of fake encounters.

In a press conference held today Babloo Loltongbam said, “We, the civil society organisations, are shocked to learn from the Imphal Free Press of August 29 that Police Collects fund to engage lawyer.”

RenuTakhellambam, President EFVFAM, Babloo Loltongbam of Human Rights Alert, Phulindro Konsam of the Working Committee of Apunba Lup, Karam Sunil of NIPCO, Rakesh Moirangthem of HRDM,  Khangembam Anandi of  Just Peach Foundation and JitenYumnam of COHR together wrote a letter to the chief minister seeking clarification on the alleged collection of fund.

The letter further pointed out as par the publication that the funds collected are meant to engage criminal lawyers to defend the police personnel who can be implicated in the on going CBI inquiry directed by the Supreme Court.

It was further reported “Before the collection stated, an urgent meeting was convened at the conference hall of SP Imphal West in the morning of August 10. The meeting was called by IGP rank police officer and the discussion was about the Supreme Court case filed by Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur and Human Rights Alert” said the group.

Considering the solemn assurance by the Hon’ble Chief Minister in the floor of the Manipur Legislative Assembly as well as in the Charge Sheet issued by the Manipur BJP In the last assembly election that his government will fully cooperate with the CBI Investigation in digging out the truth behind the fake encounters and bring justice to the victims, the reported act of the above stated IGP and his party to defend the perpetrators of the extrajudicial executions is dramatically opposite to the stated policy of the present government, we the civil organization, therefore, demanded the Hon’ble Chief Minister who is also the Home Minister to clarity to the public if the act of the IGP is carried out with his knowledge and consent, said the group in the letter.

We also condemn that the fund collection amounts to extortion by high-level police officer from lower ranks of the Manipur Police Department by abusing authority and power to shield off the murderers in uniform. We, therefore, demand  that criminal proceeding be initiated against the officers who are responsible, asserted the group in the letter.

We strongly feel that your good office should take prompt action to salvage the Manipur Police Department from slipping down as accomplish to the case of mass extra-judicial executions in Manipur,  added the group.

+ There are no comments

Add yours