assam rifles – Page 8

Assam Rifles: SEVENTY TWO UGS LAY DOWN ARMS BEFORE CM of Manipur and AR

The post Assam Rifles: SEVENTY TWO UGS LAY DOWN ARMS BEFORE CM of Manipur and AR appeared first on KanglaOnline.com.Manipur: Assam Rifles IGAR (S) accomplished yet another feat in ensuring peace and prosperity of Manipur when it convinced a total of …

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Manipur: Assam Rifles IGAR (S) accomplished yet another feat in ensuring peace and prosperity of Manipur when it convinced a total of 72 hardcore UGs of the State to surrender unconditionally in front of the Chief Minister, Mr O Ibobi … Continue reading →

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Manipur: Assam Rifles conducts seminar on environment and ecological preservation

Manipur: Assam Rifles conducts seminar ON ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGICAL PRESERVATION IN UKHRUL A seminar on ‘Environment and Ecological Preservation’ A Green Initiative was organised by 17 Assam Rifles under the… Read more »The post Manipur: As…

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Protecting children in conflict situations

By Suhas Chakma From 18th to 20th May 2012, a team of the National… more »

By Suhas Chakma
From 18th to 20th May 2012, a team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) will be visiting Manipur for investigation into alleged encounter deaths of children in the State. This is one of the most significant steps taken by the NCPCR under the leadership of Chairperson Dr Shanta Sinha to address the gaps in the implementation of the juvenile justice in the areas afflicted by internal armed conflicts.

Manipur is emblematic of the absence of juvenile justice in the conflict affected areas. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remains in force in the State but when the AFSPA was enacted in 1958, there were no juvenile justice laws. Consequently, the AFSPA does not differentiate between children and adults. For effective purposes, the armed forces treat the juveniles as adult. In the entire discourse on the AFSPA, the need for special protection of children has not been addressed adequately.

It is universally accepted that on matters relating to children, specific laws relating to children shall prevail. This overriding principle is set out in article 3(1) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which provides that “in all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration”.

Indian judiciary too has recognised the supremacy of the Juvenile Justice (Protection and Care of Children) Act, 2000 over all other Acts including on the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002. The Madras High Court in the case of the arrest of G. Prabhakaran (15 years) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 upheld the supremacy of the Juvenile Justice Act. The Madras High Court while dismissing the trial of Prabhakaran under the POTA stated “The rights of a child are an integral part of human rights, yet the protagonists of human rights hardly ever focus their attention on the exploitation and abuse of the rights of children. ….The POTA court, in the present case, has exceeded its jurisdiction and trespassed into another territory and the mischief has to be undone.’’

In Manipur, children have been consistently arrested, detained and tortured. In many cases, they have also become victims of extrajudicial executions or encounter killings. ACHR has regularly been intervening in a number of cases and it shares two specific cases which have been concluded.

On 13 July 2003, three children namely Kamkholal Haokip (17 years) and his younger brother Sumkhosat Haokip and Satkholun Haokip (15 years) were killed by the Assam Rifles personnel in an alleged encounter at Sipijang area under Senapati district. The Assam Rifles claimed that all the three children were hardcore members of the Kuki National Front. However, the villagers stated that the Assam Rifles had an encounter with the militants following which they cordoned off the four villages – Gelbung, G-Solung, Matjong Thangbu and L Khumnom and called out about 50 youths from their respective homes at about 3.30 am. All the 50 youths were taken to the playground at Gelbung village. Later on at about 6.30 am, three children were picked out from the group while the rest were told to go home. As the rest were on their way home, they heard loud gunfire shots. Later the Assam Rifles personnel called out another 12 youths from the villages and told them to carry away the bodies of the three youths which bore multiple bullet injuries. Kamkholal Haokip was a Class X student of Salem Higher Secondary School while Sumkhosat and Satkholun were employed in a hotel at Imphal. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) intervened following a complaint filed by ACHR but let off the Assam Rifles solely based on a “No Objection Certificate” forcibly taken from the villagers certifying that they were not harassed by the Assam Rifles!

However, the Assam Rifles could not hide with respect to alleged encounter killing of Saikhom Samungou (20 years), Sanasam Ngongo Meitei (15 years) and Thiyam Sunder (23 years) on 11 January 2005 under Yairipok Police Station in Thoubal district. A Press Information Bureau (PIB) Defence Wing handout claimed that all of them were cadres of the banned United National Liberation Front. However, the villagers claimed that Saikhom Samungou and Sanasam Ngongo Meitei were students. The police in its report to the NHRC following a complaint from ACHR stated that while Thiyam Sunder was a hardcore member of the UNLF, Sanasam Ngongo Meitei and Saikhom Samungou Singh were “innocent civilians”. The Ministry of Defence also admitted that Meitei and Singh were civilians but it continued to refer all the three as “militants” and “terrorists” in its report dated 13 June 2006 to the NHRC. The NHRC in its order dated 31 August 2007 directed to pay Rs 100,000 to each of the next of kin of the deceased but under what circumstances Meitei, a juvenile, was killed remained unexplained.

In all the conflict affected areas, arrest, detention, torture, sexual abuse and encounter killings are rampant. There is little knowledge about the Juvenile Justice (Protection and Care of Children) Act, 2000 amongst the law enforcement personnel in conflict situations. The institutions defined under the Juvenile Justice (Protection and Care of Children) Act, 2000 such as Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees, Juveniles Homes, Juvenile Special Police Units etc do not exist in the disturbed areas/conflict situations. And large parts of the country are indeed affected by armed conflicts. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 21 out of 28 States are affected by internal armed conflicts. These includes Jammu and Kashmir, seven northeastern States and 13 Naxalite affected States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

In order to address the gaps for administration of juvenile justice in conflict affected areas, there is a need to adopt “Standard Operating Procedures” that the security forces must comply. Further, the institutions of juvenile justice ought to be made functional. Otherwise, children living in conflict affected areas will be deprived of what is provided to children in rest of the country.

AR apprehends two UG cadres (kanglaonline.com)
Manfete 2012 (kanglaonline.com)
Wreath laying ceremony on Assam Rifles Day (kanglaonline.com)
AFSPA as I see it – Wg Cdr G Baruah (Retd) V/s Truth & Abstract of Lie (kanglaonline.com)
2 nabbed with arms (kanglaonline.com)
30th Battalion The Assam Rifles (Rising Sun Battalion) (kanglaonline.com)
AR organizes pulse polio immunization program (kanglaonline.com)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/protecting-children-in-conflict-situations/

One Day Mini Trade Fair – Bosco Mangaal, Imphal

Bosco Mangaal, Imphal is orgnaising a One Day Mini Trade Fair for the JLGs formed… more »

Bosco Mangaal, Imphal is orgnaising a One Day Mini Trade Fair for the JLGs formed under LIFEAID Project- Care & Support programme for the PLHIV at Savio Hall, Don Bosco Chingmeirong, Old Building Campus , Imphal on Saturday, the 17th September 2011 from 10:30 t0 4 :00 P.M

Sd-

Fr. PX Francis

Director, Bosco Mangaal, Imphal

The annoucement was sent to Kanglaonline.com by Niram Thongbam niranthongbam[at]gmail.com

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/one-day-mini-trade-fair-bosco-mangaal-imphal/

Part 1: The human rights crisis in Manipur and the north-east: Victimization of women and children

By: Usha Thiyam Context Manipur In the land of NUPI Lal, Meira Peibis (Local women who safeguard the folks), Sharmila and Manorama, it is unbelievable that such horrific crimes as… Read more »

By: Usha Thiyam

Context Manipur

In the land of NUPI Lal, Meira Peibis (Local women who safeguard the folks), Sharmila and Manorama, it is unbelievable that such horrific crimes as mentioned below are committed.

I must confess killing an EMa Meira Peibi member, was a shock to everyone at that time. Then, came more shocking news of more women being killed, more Meira Peibis. Whatever be the reason “XYZ” the reason is not strong enough to take on human lives

Indeed it is a human rights disaster. Dead bodies being recovered in awkward positions, hands tied, legs tied, eyes blindfolded, nude, neck being twisted, body parts being twisted. It is not a thriller or crime series on TV but reality that drastically shot up in 2010 for women and children. The number of dead young men in the last decade “shot for XYZ” reason will never be justified. There is no knowledge of any database – perhaps 100s or 1000s. Perhaps, similar to a country ruled by a dictator or those countries with human rights crisis- similar to Sudan, Darfur ? Obvious reply –research please!. Number of widows in the state continued to rise. Not just widows but those infected with mental diseases too and continued to be exploited. Certainly not in chronological order, but the ghastly crimes that falls in just one state indicates there is the need for a international Alarm on human rights disaster in the state. International authorities should step in unless, more deaths and a civil war is carved out.
First, it was “one” disastrous news that an Ema (member of Meira Peibi) was shot and killed. I must confess killing an EMa Meira Peibi member, was a shock to everyone at that time. Then, came more shocking news of more women being killed, more Meira Peibis. Whatever be the reason “XYZ” the reason is not strong enough to take on human lives. Then, came the news about the series of so called attacks by Assam Rifles personal, and the tragedy of Manorama’s death. The event that there was a nude protest at the gate of the Assam Rifles/Kangla to protest against the prevailing molestation, torture and rape of womenfolk and Manorama’s death became a news shared widely.
Then, came the disastrous news of several “northeast” women being molested and raped in Delhi and the racial discrimination they face there (June-November 2010 news including those @timesofinidaonline.com). I saw quite some comments and reactions by everyone because many family members, relatives commute and work in Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai. So I started to send e-mails, to create a strong organization and put a stop to such crimes.
Then, came the news of women and children being trafficked and molested primarily by foreign aid seeking organizations in Chennai, south India as well as in several organizations. The usual story of a well paid job being promised located abroad- Bankok, China or in the nearby countries was mentioned in the news articles. Amazing to read that child soldiers were being recruited by various militants and the recruiters were being paid well for their jobs.
Then there are cases of vulgar pornographic Korean film clips being sent out to women and children by SMS mobile telephones. The internet without any censorship and more related films and materials, elevated such crimes and torture and violence against women continued.

Recent cases:

In one recent case, the daughter of one person was kidnapped, raped and mercilessly thrown out simply because the demands made to father were not met. Today you have heard this news of a Class-XI girl being raped and killed by strangulation. Post-partum reports are yet to be revealed as to whether the accused is the boyfriend or other men are involved. Even thou, news report suggest the accused is caught by the police, the reality still remains.
Are the police to be trusted or appropriately doing their duties- No comment? In one article news report indicated a women committed suicide because of harassment and teasing by a group of police commandoes. So how far can we trust the police?
In January 2010, a double rape and murder shook Imphal. The killing of Chanbi and her teenage daughter Menaka at Phayeng (Manipur) who were called out from their home in the evening by two men on the pretext of discussing something. Till date, even thou it might not have been too difficult of a task, who called them out that evening is not solved. While several organizations strongly condemned state government’s inaction in delivering justice to this double rape and murder case, no one has been booked for the double murder. She was a widow and left behind 3 small children.
On december 13, 2010 the nude dead body of an unidentified woman believed to be in her forties was found amongst ricestraw at a paddy field near Yaiphakol village, about 2 kms from Khuga dam. Entirely nude mercilessly killed, and blood seeping from her nose and mouth. Sources in the police said, they suspect she was done to death a night before.
The news media stated that there were no visible foot-prints available in the area surrounding the body, nor was there any trace of her clothing or any other substantial evidences. Again, the question here is what the forensics is doing here in this case, around the paddy field or near the dead body – in what way the autopsy helped here?. This was the second instance in three weeks wherein the dead body of a woman entirely in nude was discovered in the district. The lifeless body of a fifty-year old woman cashier with the DRDA was discovered nude stacked behind wooden pieces beneath her own residence on Nov 25. Authorities, according to news sources, detained her husband allegedly on suspicion over the murder.
Not only this, several murders took place, a mentally handicapped woman was found raped in her shop in the night.

Apex civil society organizations for women extended their support in many ways, agitation, Joint action Committees (JACs). But the outcome and agitation launched in connection with the incidents above did not change the trend and it continues to rise. Perhaps it is aging of armed persons- who knows that they cannot be caught striking again and again. Time to Wake up Manipur-! For the number of women murdered, there should be few days of demonstration and a statewide stir and shake up massive protest rally.

Few days back, news came out that millitants groups would buy properties in Guwahati and many other places in India in the name of their wives. The question is is the wife’s name being exploited, taken for granted or is this mere exploitation.

Questions:

The role of media in showing the dead bodies, delivering the news and the psychological impact it might have is largely ignored.
For state-of-art facilities of post partum, perhaps, time is to ask what kind of facility do we have ?
How many JACs are formed until date for how many unlawful deaths?
Internet/film censorship – where are we with this?
By no drastic steps steps being taken to book the killers of such ghastly crimes of rape/murders the number of killers is on the rise.

Role of government and police authority and why they will not resign- still a question at large ?

I would like to tribute this article to late Prof. Naorem Sanajoaba, noted human rights activist and intellect who was my aunts’ husband.

References: kanglaonline, e-pao, sangai express, timesofindia, telegraphindia – Online Articles

Usha Thiyam is a Social Activist Based in Germany

URGENT OPENING FOR Sales Executive & Technical Executive @ CUBETEN, Imphal

1) Sale Executive: For Selling Software product to the channel and the direct sales ,Preferably any Graduate, (MBA/PGDBM, will be given more preference) having minimum Exp. Of 6 months to… Read more »

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/sKUTXulBbw4/

Where is Imphal?

Chitra Ahanthem. What would you do if two people with cameras slung around their necks walk up to you and try and coax you to hold a placard that says,… Read more »

Chitra Ahanthem.

What would you do if two people with cameras slung around their necks walk up to you and try and coax you to hold a placard that says, “Where is Imphal?” and pose for the camera? One migrant balloon seller retorted back with “Imphal is certainly not in Kashmir!” Confused?

Well! The two people with camera and placard in hand happen to be IFP editor Pradip Phanjoubam, a tall man (by Manipuri standards) and myself (short, by any standards!). We were looking for places (and will continue to do so) and moods to convey about Imphal city. First stop was the War Cemetery and for lack of any subjects, I had to “model” with the placard that said: “WHERE IS IMPHAL ? ” It was late afternoon and there were only young couples who would look furtively around to see if their pictures were being taken. But two small girls who had come with their grand father saved the day. They became our first models. The next stop was on Bir Tikendrajit Road where a vegetable vendor sat about doing her business with the placard placed near her. Later, we would take pictures of polo ponies and small boys holding the placard inside Pologround; balloon sellers at Samu Makhong and an old gentleman who saw us struggling with putting the placard at the base of the statue. He got a pedestrian walking past to pose with him, both of them holding up the placard. Still confused?

So well! The story starts with a public art project, “WHERE IS HEIDENHEIM?” based in the Heidenheim Zietung, a local newspaper of Hedienheim in Germany. The project format was developed by artists Tina O’Connell from Ireland and Neal White from the United Kingdom who says of their project, “We see public sculpture more as a malleable process informed by broader social contexts, and not bound in form by physical materiality, but through the flux and dynamics of
events, which in turn become the substance and context of our own practice.”

Connecting globally many ‘local newspapers’, the project occupies public space as an exploration of the connection between a community and its own printed voice. The project is made in response to the perceived threat to local newspapers from the internet. The first link paper to take part in the exchange with Heidenheim Zietung in August 2010 was ‘The Wendover Times’ from Utah in the USA. The story of the work was printed on the front page and then reprinted as a whole page inside the Heidenheim Zeitung. Further copies of the Wendover Times were distributed in a vending machine next to a large 6 metre
sign that has been erected in Heidenheim. Newspaper stories continue to be run in both papers thus creating a bridge between two small towns separated by distance but coming together in content and flavor.

The “Where is Imphal?” photo feature will first be published in Imphal Free Press, the newspaper copies of which would be sent to Heidenheim Zietung, the newspaper in Heidenheim in Germany. They will then print the entire page from the Imphal Free press – inlcuding other articles and news on that page, as a full page inside their own paper and order copies of the paper for distribution in Heidenheim.

Sounds crazy? But then, it is a load of fun trying to coax people to hold the placard while we aim our cameras at them. Our plan for the photo feature would be to look not only at landmarks of the city but also at the essence of Imphal city: its pulse, its noise and chaos. Our only stumbling block is the part about talking to people and convincing them to pose for pictures. Candid camera shots are easier and rather than risk the afternoon light from fading too much, we ended up being models ourselves. Me “shooting” my editor and vice versa! In the process, we had our share of “who are those two weird people?” kind of look directed towards us. Sometimes, people would disperse real quick, the moment we walked up to them and stood near to them with the placard.

End-point:

For this week, if you see the tall man (Editor!) and the human version of the caricature that comes along with this column in IFP (me) approaching you anywhere around Imphal, please smile for the camera and be a sport!

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/WpfcMZKaD78/

Over thousand eagerly waiting Yoga guru Ramdev at Kohima

KOHIMA, Feb 24 (NEPS): Over 2000 people including VIPs at the State capital, Kohima are eagerly waiting to avail Yoga training from noted Yoga guru Baba Ramdev who is arriving… Read more »

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev

KOHIMA, Feb 24 (NEPS): Over 2000 people including VIPs at the State capital, Kohima are eagerly waiting to avail Yoga training from noted Yoga guru Baba Ramdev who is arriving here tomorrow from Dimapur.

The historic Yoga camp will be organized here at Assam Rifles’ ground on February 26 under the aegis of Pathanjali Yoga Samiti Nagaland (PYSN) and the stage is set and everything is geared up to receive the great Yaga guru.

According to sources, 1700 entry cards have already been issued and another 300 is expected till tomorrow afternoon. “It is free and the entry cards to those who are attending the Yoga class,” MKR Pillai, PYSN President told NEPS here today.

Various platforms have been made for VVIPs, officials, Press, general public. Security would be thrown around and all the persons having entry cards would also be frisked for security reasons, the sources said.

Yaga guru would be staying in Raj Bhavan on 25 February and he has a Z-Plus security status.

The next day on 26 February, he would be taken to Assam Rifles’ ground and start giving Yoga class from 4:30 AM to 7:30 AM. Soon after the Yoga class is over, he would be addressing the press conference at the venue itself from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM.

The Yoga guru would then meet the organizing committee members from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Then he would visit Kohima Village and attend a program at Village Panchayat Hall being organized in his honor at 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM. He would depart for Naogoan, Assam at 1:00 PM for another Yoga program there before leaving for Delhi.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/P6eyihBvLV8/

Related articles

Context Manipur

Recent cases:

Questions: