The Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) has condemned the adoption of violence as a means of tool for the upcoming election in February and March in Manipur.
"We deeply regret the incompetency of political parties, police departments and the government and appeal all to refrain from committing an offence which lead to the loss of precious lives of citizens of Manipur.
"We are also sad to witness the inaction of the Manipur Human Rights Commission which is established to protect and to curb and direct the state authority to control from commissioning such violence," Kh Phajaton, forum president, said in a statement.
YFPHR added that the use of guns or weapons to threaten its citizen to prove its power is yet another act of insecurity and incompetency of the particular parties or individuals or state authorities. The series of violence could be witnessed on November 25, 2021, at around 9:30 pm, where sitting MLA of Langthabal A/C Karam Shyam identified himself as an intending candidate of BJP pulled out a gun from his pocket and threatened the public. On November 27, 2021, at around 11:20 pm, unidentified persons fired several rounds at the house of Ranjit Lourembam of Yairipok Yambem Makha Leikai.
On December 22, 2021, Ningthoujam Rohit (21), a Thoubal College student was shot dead while his father Premchandra (53) was injured in firing related to pre-poll violence at Heirok Part II village under Heirok Assembly Constituency. On December 23, 2021, two workers of Kh Ratankumar (Vice President, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee) who recently joined the Congress from the BJP were attacked with gunshots while conducting an election campaign in one of the residences at Mayang Imphal.
On January 1, 2022, unknown miscreants fired at the election office of National Peoples Party’s candidate Huidrom Vikramjit from Yaiskul Constituency at Brahmapur Laljilakpa Leikai. On January 7, 2022, at around 01:30 pm, about 7 rounds of bullets were fired from a vehicle of BJYM President M Barish Sharma in a crowded BJP’s office of Bishnupur District leading to social unrest. On January 9, 2022, at around 9:30 pm two persons were shot at Wangoi Constituency and reported dead. Concerning the above-cited incidents, adopting violence as the means to dominate and creating fear psychosis among the civilians prior to the election is not a sign of good governance, the YFPHR said.
In October 2021 the District Magistrate had already announced to submit the licensed gun to the nearest police station however, the incidents which took place after the announcement clearly indicate that licensed guns have not been properly checked by the state which is of serious concern, the forum said. If the licensed guns are deposited in the concerned police stations then from where the guns are being used to threaten the public in connection with the election? Doesn’t the order passed by the District Magistrate cover the intending candidates and the standing candidates or its workers of all the Political parties are in need to be questioned at this critical point of time? , the YFPHR question.
The Forum had already appealed citizens on October 30, 2021, to refrain from violence and also appealed to the Manipur Human Rights Commission, Governor of Manipur, and Department of Home to immediately intervene to curb the poll-related violence in the state of Manipur. The YFPHR appealed to the people of Manipur to refrain from possible violence related to election as no state authority is concerned to protect its citizen but to misuse its power and snatch the power of the people using the violence.
