Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a human rights organisation based in Manipur state that a violent incident involving local drug smugglers and underground militant organisation has resulted in the death of two persons and injured three others. It is reported that in a conflict between two rival groups that happened on 16 December 2008, five houses were also burned down. One of the persons who died in the incident, Mr. Manglam Haokip, was burned alive in his house.
CASE DETAILS:
Kwakta village of Bishenpur district is about 50 kilometres away from Imphal, the capital of Manipur state. The village is located along the boundary of Bishenpur and Churachandpur districts. On December 16, 2008 in late evening Ms. Ibetombi Bibi, aged about 26 years, residing at Ukha Tampak of Kwakta village saw some unidentified armed persons beating up some children. Ibetombi tried to intervene questioning the armed persons why they are assaulting the children. The assailants responded by one among them trying to take away Ibetombi at gunpoint.
Fearing for her life Ibetombi screamed out for help. Hearing her cry, Ibetombi’s uncle, Mr. Mohammad Abdul Samad, alias Itao, rushed to the scene to rescue Ibetombi from the gunmen. But the gunmen shot Samad. They also shot at Mr. Baseer Ahmad who also came to the scene in the meanwhile.
Samad was hit on his left leg and Baseer was hit on his right arm. The commotion attracted the attention of other persons in the village. They gathered at the scene, apprehended one gunman, Mr. Lhunkhogam Shingson, aged 27 years, son of John Shingsen of Heijang village, and lynched him. A handgun was found in his possession. Then they assaulted another person, Mr. Kaikhulun, accusing him of being the member of the underground armed wing of the Kuki tribe. He is receiving treatment at the Churachandpur District Hospital.
This group soon spread the rumour that the underground armed militant wing of the Kuki tribe are firing at innocent people. Word also spread that Mr. Haokam, allegedly belonging to the underground armed Kuki group, is hiding in a house in the village. While these rumours spread, the initial small mob who lynched the gunman also grew in number. The mob then surrounded five houses and set them on fire suspecting that Haokam is hiding in one of the houses.
In the incident however an innocent person, Mr. Mangalam Haokip, was burned to death inside his house. According to Mangalam’s children, their father was sleeping inside the house. As he was partially deaf, he might not have heard the commotion, while the rest of the persons in the other four houses were able to escape when their houses were set on fire. Mangalam’s wife died a few years ago. In addition to Mangalam’s house, the house of Mr. Somthang Haokip, Mr. Thangjang, Mr. Ngaikhosing and Mr. Shimhou Haokip were set on fire in this incident.
Since the past several years some persons residing in Kwakta village are actively involved in illegal drug and narcotic trafficking. Unfortunately most of them who are engaged in this dangerous as well as illegal trade are members of the local Muslim community. In addition to the general local sentiment that Muslims are unwelcome settlers in the region, the fact that some of them are engaged in illegal drug and narcotic trafficking has invited the hatred of other indigenous tribal communities. Armed underground groups often take law and order into their hands, particularly if the issue involves a non-welcome group like the Muslims.
In this case it is reported that, what Ibetombi witnessed as armed gunmen assaulting some children, was in fact the members of the Kuki underground group interrogating the children to know more about the drug peddlers. However, when Ibetombi intervened, the gunmen turned against her and anybody else who tried to intervene. The Muslim villagers on the other hand viewed the incident as a challenge upon the Muslim community by the indigenous Kuki tribesmen.
The result was a clash between the two groups, the members of the Kuki underground group and a violent mob that allegedly represented Muslim villagers. Most of the members in the violent mob were however members of the local drug mafia. It is reported that such incidents often happen in the state due to the lack of responsibility of the local police force. It is reported that neither do the police take any effective measures to prevent drug trafficking, nor do they bring underground armed groups under control.
Regarding this incident, the Moirang police has registered a case (case number 213(12)08). However it is not known what is the nature of the case or against whom the case is registered and what further actions the police have taken. In the meanwhile, the Kuki villagers who fled from the scene have taken refuge in houses situated at the foothill of Thangjing hill and Churachandpur village, whereas the Muslims have also fled the area and have temporarily settled at Kwakta and Khunou villages.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities, in particular the police investigating this case, to ensure that investigations are effectively done. Also, the victims should be afforded the appropriate assistance they require, like protection and shelter, as they endure the process of prosecuting those responsible for the incident.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
INDIA: Impartial investigation of the murder of two persons and mob violence must be ensured
Name of victims:
1. Mr. Lhunkhogam Shingson, aged 27 years, son of Mr. John Shingsen, Heijang village, Churachandpur district, Manipur (deceased)
2. Mr. Mangalam Haokip, aged 45 years, son of Mangthang Haokip, Ukha village, Bishenpur district, Manipur (deceased)
3. Mr. Mohhamad Abdul Samad, alias Itago, aged 50 years, son of Mr. Karim, Kakwa Bazar Maning Bishenpur district, Manipur
4. Mr. Mohammad Baseer Ahmad, aged 40 years, son of Mohammad Najir Ali, Ukha Tampak, Kwakta Ward number 8, Bishenpur district, Manipur
5. Mr. Kaikhulun, aged 44 years, son of Holkhosei, Ukha Tampak, Kwakta village, Bishenpur, Manipur
Police investigating the case: Moirang Police Station
Date of incident: 16 December 2008
I am writing to express my concern regarding the incident reported from Ukha Tampak, Kwakta village, Bishenpur district that happened on 16 December 2008. I am informed that in this incident, reportedly have been the result of long-standing rivalry between underground armed groups of the Kuki tribe and drug traffickers, two persons were murdered and three persons injured. The details of the five persons are cited above. In addition to these five men, the houses of Mr. Somthang Haokip, Mr. Thangjang, Mr. Ngaikhosing and Mr. Shimhou Haokip were set on fire by a violent mob in this incident. Deceased Mr. Mangalam’s house was also set on fire in this incident.
I am informed that on 16 December 2008, in late evening when Ms. Ibetombi Bibi, aged about 26 years, residing at Ukha Tampak of Kwakta village tried to intervene when she saw some unidentified armed persons beating up some children, the armed gunmen tried to take Ibetombi away at gunpoint. When Ibetombi screamed out for help, her uncle, Mr. Mohammad Abdul Samad, alias Itao, rushed to the scene to rescue her. But the gunmen shot Samad. They also shot at Mr. Baseer Ahmad who also came to the scene in the meanwhile.
I am informed that a crowd that gathered at the scene lynched Mr. Lhunkhogam Shingson, aged 27 years, son of John Shingsen of Heijang village. The crowd accusing him as one of the gunmen lynched Lhunkhogam. I am further informed that the crowd then assaulted another person, Mr. Kaikhulun, accusing him of being the member of the underground armed wing of the Kuki tribe.
The mob then surrounded five houses and set the houses on fire suspecting that a Kuki armed man is hiding in one of the houses. However an innocent person, Mr. Mangalam Haokip, was burned to death inside his house in the incident. In addition to Mangalam’s house, the house of Mr. Somthang Haokip, Mr. Thangjang, Mr. Ngaikhosing and Mr. Shimhou Haokip were set on fire in this incident.
I am also informed that since the past several years some persons residing in Kwakta village are actively involved in illegal drug and narcotic trafficking. Unfortunately most of them who are engaged in this are the members of the Muslim community. This, I am told is a reason for the increase in tension between the indigenous and the Muslim community living in the area. I am also informed that armed underground groups often take law and order into their hands, due to the paucity of local policing in the area.
I am also informed that neither do the police take any effective measures to prevent drug trafficking, nor do they bring underground armed groups under control.
Regarding this incident, the Moirang police has registered a case (case number 213(12)08). However I am informed that it is not known what is the nature of the case or against whom the case is registered and what further actions the police have taken. In the meanwhile, the Kuki villagers who fled from the scene have taken refuge in houses situated at the foothill of Thangjing hill and Churachandpur village, whereas the Muslims have also fled the area and have temporarily settled at Kwakta and Khunou villages.
I therefore request you to take immediate action in this case and ensure the following:
1. The state police must be immediately mobilised to investigate the entire case thoroughly;
2. The progress of the investigation must be informed to the members of the public, to the relatives of those who lost their life in the incident in particular;
3. The statement of the witnesses must be recorded immediately and their protection ensured by the police;
4. The houses that were set on fire must be rebuild immediately using state resources
5. The persons who lost their life as well as those who were injured in the incident must be paid compensation by the state;
6. The state police must ensure that no such incidents recur and that those who fled the region are safely returned;
7. The state police must also ensure that drug trafficking in the two districts (Churachandpur and Bishenpur) and in Manipur in general is brought under control and soon stopped.
I expect that you will take appropriate action in this case.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh
Chief Minister of Manipur
New Secretariat Building
Bapupara, Imphal, Manipur
INDIA
Fax + 91 385 2451398
E-mail: cmmani@hub.nic.in
2. Mr. Rakesh Kumar
Chief Secretary, Manipur
Old Secretariat Building
Bapupara, Imphal, Manipur
INDIA
Fax + 91 385 2222629
E-mail: csecmani@hub.nic.in
3. Mr. Y. Joykumar Singh
Director General of Police
Police Headquarter
Bapupara, Imphal, Manipur
INDIA
Fax + 91 385 2223829
E-mail: dgp.mnp@hub.nic.in
4. Mr. R.N. Shimre
Deputy Commission, Bishenpur
Mini-Secretariat, Bishenpur, Manipur
INDIA
Fax: + 91 3879 222349
Thank you
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
