The International Human Rights Association (IHRA) Manipur strongly condemned the FIRs lodged against its president and demanded immediate revocation of all the FIR as per United Nations General Assembly Resolution on protecting human rights defenders.
The IHRA Manipur president Mark Thangmang Haokip was summoned to appear before the investigating officer, Churachandpur Police for recording a statement on Sunday in connection with FIR No.74(07)2022, Churachandpur police station under section 153-A/505(2) IPS.
Following the summon, the youth wing of the IHRA Manipur Chapter assembled in front of Churachandpur Police Station, protesting the summon and FIR which resulted in the arrest of five IHRA Manipur youth wing volunteers.
Strongly condemning the summon, the IHRA Manipur Chapter stated that the state government and the district authority concerned must immediately withdraw the summon order and revoke all the FIR against its president.
It also strongly condemned the alleged assault meted out to its youth wing volunteers and supporters gathered in front of the Churachandpur police station in protest against the summon.
It also stated that the people have every right to a peaceful protest against any injustice. The use of force and intimidation amounting to physical and mental torture of the people is unacceptable, it added.
It stated that the association is shocked by the propaganda against a human rights activist who has been accused of wanton vilification and rebutted the allegations against its president as unfounded.
Failing to withdraw the summon order and revoking all the FIR will cause a large-scale protest, it stated.
The summon and the FIRs were also strongly condemned by the IHRA Sadar Hills and IHRA Tengnoupal district, and demanded the state government withdraw them.
It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs, IS-I Division (VIP Security Section), New Delhi had intimated to the chief secretary, Government of Manipur for looking into the security concerns of president IHRA Manipur Mark T Haokip, based on reported perception of threats in April this year.
However, a source from the IHRA Manipur Chapter said the IHRA Manipur Chapter President is yet to receive security coverage.
