annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Manipur
State Human Rights Commission does not
have any investigative staff. There is no
research division either.
The State government of Manipur
officially sanctioned Rs 13 lakhs for the
year 2000-2001, 28.68 lakhs for 2002-
2003, 28.60 lakhs for the year 2003-2004
and 30 lakhs for 2004-2005. The State
government allegedly diverted the
resources approved for the State Human
Rights Commission for other purposes.
The Manipur State Human Rights
Commission reportedly returned the
untilised money to the government.
However, it has only two computers, one
of which was bought during the financial
year 2004-2005.
Justice Shishak stated that despite
sending reminders from 10 to 15 times,
State government of Manipur did not
submit any response to many complaints.
VI. Abuses by the armed
opposition groups
The armed opposition groups have
been responsible for arbitrary killings,
extortion, kidnapping and other violations
of international humanitarian law.
i. Arbitrary killings
On 22 February 2004, a four-year-old
girl named Salam Thoibi was killed and
two others injured in an indiscriminate
firing by members of the United National
Liberation Front in Karang village in
Bishenpur district. The UNLF members
reportedly entered into an altercation over
the question of wearing a camouflage T-
166
shirt by one Salam Sanjoy. When Salam’s
mother and her companions were about to
leave after the alleged row, the commander
of the UNLF reportedly stepped out and
fired at them three times. Four-year-old
Salam Thoibi, who was hanging to her
mother’s back, was reportedly hit by a
bullet and died on the spot. The two other
bullets hit Ningthoujam Abem and Salam
Sanjoy on their legs. 81 Over two thousand
angry villagers reportedly took out a rally
from Karang to Moirang with the child’s
body demanding punishment for the
culprit. 82 The UNLF on 24 March 2004
reportedly expressed regret over the death
of the four-year-old girl and injuries to the
other two allegedly by the bullets of its
cadres. The UNLF further stated that it
would probe the incident and take
necessary action; but no further statement
has been made. 83
On 22 March 2004, Huidrom
Shyamsunder alias Amujao, son of H
Ibomcha of Wabagai Awang Leikai, was
reportedly shot dead at a place near
Oriental Social Association, Wabagai
Awang Leikai by three unidentified
gunmen after he was abducted from the
campus of Wabagai Pole Star College
examination centre at around 8.30 am on
the same day. He was reportedly writing
his class XII exams conducted by the
Council of Higher Secondary Education
Manipur. 84 PREPAK reportedly claimed
responsibility for the killing of
Shyamsunder, alleging that he was a police
informer, and his activities had led to the
death of the organization’s secretary on 9