INDIA: One man killed and two others seriously injured by the Indian paramilitary’s firing in a church compound

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from its local partner, the Human Rights Alert (HRA) based in Manipur, India, regarding an alleged incident of indiscriminate firing in the compound of a church by the officers from the 32 Assam Rifle (AR) stationed in Manipur. It is alleged that a person was killed and two others seriously injured in the incident. Meanwhile the AR has refused to take the responsibility of the incident by stating that the firing was by the militants in the state.  
 
CASE DETAILS:

According to the information received, on 31 January 2007, four villagers including the deceased Mr. Henpu Singsit along with his friends Mr. S. Letkholal Haokip alias Palal and Mr. Seiminthang Haokip were working inside the church compound in Khoken village, Seiprameina, Senapati district, Manipur state, India. About ten girls from the village were helping them. They were trying to erect a stone inside the church compound for its golden jubilee celebrations, which was to be held on 20 February 2007.

At around 12.30pm, they heard several rounds of gun shots at a distance. After awhile two officers from the Assam Rifles (AR) came inside the church compound and opened firing blank cartridges. The villagers told them that they were civilians and that they were working for the church. However the officers immediately fired at them, but this time with real cartridges hitting the men at work. The officers approached the fallen victims and started assaulting them and later left the spot.  Within 10 minutes of the incident, some 40 to 50 additional officers from the same battalion came to the church compound and asked the villagers gathered there as to who shot the victims down. The villagers told that it was officers from the AR battalion. The officers shouted at the villagers for lying to them. The officers soon left and the villagers brought the injured persons to Imphal city.

Mr. Henpu, who sustained a bullet injury in his chest, succumbed to the injuries on the way to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). The other two were admitted to the hospital.

On 31 January 2007 at 5.30pm, staff members from the Human Rights Alert (HRA) met with and interviewed Mr. S. Letkholal Haokip and Mr. Seiminthang Haokip, the injured persons, at the RIMS. Mr. Letkholal had sustained a bullet injury on his left arm. He informed the HRA staff that in fact the officers also wanted to kill him but he somehow escaped. He also informed the HRA staff that he could identify those who shot them. Letkholal’s friend Mr. Seiminthang has sustained a bullet injury on his left shoulder. He also informed the HRA staff that he had come to the village to help in the church service.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Manipur, one among the seven states in north-east India, was annexed to the Indian union in 1949. Since then the government of India has enacted several draconian laws, including the Armed Forces (Special Powers Act) of 1958, in the pretext to control secessionist activities in the state. By the operation of these laws, impunity is provided to the security officials, whereas fundamental rights are denied to the ordinary people of Manipur. A large number of Indian army detachments and other paramilitary units are stationed in Manipur since the past few decades and thousands have been killed since then in military shootouts.

A human rights activist Ms. Irom Sharmila was on a hunger strike for more than six years in protest against rights abuses in Manipur. Since the last few months Sharmila is prevented by the Indian authorities from returning to her home state from Delhi. Sharmila had to leave her home state Manipur for Delhi in October 2006 to take the protest to the national capital, where she was arrested and forced-fed through a nasal tube at a government hospital just like authorities in Manipur did since she launched her campaign. Sharmila began her fast in late 2000 after the soldiers shot 10 young men at a bus stop in a small town in Manipur and demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers Act) of 1958 from Manipur. This Act gives absolute impunity to security forces to shoot to kill any suspects and to face no inquiry or prosecution. It is alleged that hundreds were killed, mutilated and the women raped in Manipur under the cover of this law.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the relevant authorities mentioned below urging for an immediate and thorough investigation into this case so that actions are taken against the alleged perpetrators. Please also request the authorities in India to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 of India. The AHRC is also writing to the Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions Mr. Philip Alston calling for an immediate intervention in this case.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER