The Youth’s Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) has urged the department of home and deputy commissioners of all the districts to revisit the criteria of providing licensed guns and the individuals who have obtained the licensed gun in Manipur.
YFPHR stated in a release that the forum repeatedly appealed to the Manipur government with regard to the increase of gun crimes committed by licensed gun holders and unauthorised gun holders in the state.
On January 5, 2023 at around 9.30 pm, a woman was shot by her lover who happened to be a Manipur police personnel, the forum stated. The injured woman lost consciousness and is now in a coma, treated at a hospital because of the bullet injury. By the time of the incident, the police personnel was in his service uniform along with his service gun.
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It is believed that the firing was intentional, having an aim to kill the woman as there are three places of bullet injury, one on the right chest and two on the right side of the neck, the forum noted.
"It is very unfortunate that we could witness a series of gun violence in the state of Manipur besides tireless efforts made by the department of home, government of Manipur. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the loop holes on why there is an increase in gun violence in the state of Manipur.
"We cannot deny the fact that the people of Manipur have been subject to violence ever since the AFSPA, 1958 was imposed and violence was committed by the Indian Armed Forces, State Forces and Non-State actors. The hangover of gun violence must end immediately," the forum stated.
Further, the YFPHR also urged the government of Manipur to bear all the medical expenses of the victim as she belongs to the marginalised section of the society and that the injury was committed through the Government Service Allotted Gun.
The forum urged the department of home and deputy commissioners of all the districts to revisit the criteria of providing licensed guns and the individuals who have already obtained the licensed gun in the state of Manipur.
The Manipur government must take accountability of the incident and urge to terminate the ASI immediately instead of his suspension, it added.
