The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) Manipur on Saturday demanded the Central government to hand over all cases related to crime against women which had been reported in the ongoing crisis to the CBI.
"If the Centre is hell bent on punishing culprits involved in crime against women which were reported in the crisis, then they should hand over all cases to CBI for proper investigation," FOCS stated.
Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal, FOCS president Th Manihar claimed that the seven culprits involved in the May 4 viral video case had been called up by the CBI even before ascertaining whether they were truly guilty.
"The people of Manipur condemns the heinous actions of May 4 but meting out selective justice for few specific cases is not deliverance of true justice but a ploy to please only few groups," he said.
He questioned why the government was silent when an FIR had been filed regarding a case of the same magnitude which reportedly took place a day earlier on May 3 at Churachandpur.
"Is there a separate justice system for the hills and the valley in Manipur and if not, then all cases related to crime against women must be handed over the CBI," he said.
He demanded the government to punish all who had flagrantly violated the constitutional decorum equally by conducting proper investigations.
"The culprits involved in starting the May 3 violence at Churachandpur, the display of sophisticated arms at Independence Day observance are all punishable offences," he said.
He stated that selective justice and punishment would not resolve the crisis but rather enflame it even further.
As such, he called upon authorities to immediately release those found innocent in the May 4 viral video case.
Meanwhile, general secretary of Nongbrang Thumkhong Lairembi Youth Club, N Boboi demanded authorities to release Nameirakpam Kiran who was arrested for simply receiving the video and cautioned that the people of Yairipok would not remain silent if authorities continue to make such baseless arrests.
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