IT News
Imphal, Nov 24:
Seven organizations based in Manipur—Yelhoumee Phurup, Taragi Cheishu, Solidarity Offered Unitedly for a Lustrated Society, Youth Collective Manipur, Nupi Union for Peace and Integrity, Manipur Students’ Association Delhi, and Manipur International Youth Centre—have submitted a memorandum to the United Nations Secretary-General, international human rights bodies, and the Government of India, demanding immediate action over the Jakuradhor Massacre. The tragic incident, which occurred on November 15, 2024, in Jiribam District, Manipur, involved the killing of six internally displaced persons (IDPs), including an eight-month-old infant, allegedly by Kuki militia.
The organizations described the massacre as a deliberate and calculated act targeting vulnerable women and children who had sought refuge in a police station in Jakuradhor village. They argued that the incident is part of a larger pattern of violence by Kuki-Zo armed militia, which has reportedly been operating with impunity under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Government of India since 2005. This agreement, they claimed, has enabled the militia to regroup and carry out acts of extortion, kidnappings, looting, and murder, particularly along Manipur’s national highways.
The memorandum highlighted the Indian government’s failure to protect civilians and prevent such atrocities, questioning its commitment to upholding domestic and international humanitarian laws. The groups emphasized that the massacre violates Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which provides minimum guarantees of human dignity during conflicts. They condemned the government’s silence on the issue and criticized the re-imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the region, calling it an undemocratic measure that has failed to prevent violence and protect civilians.
Among the demands put forth by the organizations are the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators under the Geneva Convention Act, 1960, and Indian criminal laws, as well as the establishment of an independent judicial inquiry commission led by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the massacre. They called for the deployment of a UN Special Rapporteur to conduct an impartial probe and urged the Women and Child Commission of India to produce a detailed report under the POCSO Act, 2012. The memorandum also requested the National Human Rights Commission to visit the massacre site and ensure justice for the victims.
The organizations further demanded the immediate repeal of AFSPA, describing it as a globally condemned and ineffective law, and called for the establishment of a UN-supervised tribunal to prosecute individuals responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide in the region. They criticized the Indian government’s extensive deployment of armed forces under AFSPA, arguing that it has failed to prevent attacks on civilians, including farmers and truckers in the conflict-affected areas.
