MCPCR has expressed grave concern for the recent incidents in which child protesters got injured in cases of lathi-charge, assault on vital body parts, and even fainting of girls due to exposure to tear gas during the Pukhao incident. The Commission termed these incidents as grave violations of child-protection laws and international child-rights standards.
In an urgent advisory to the security forces and administrative authorities, MCPCR Chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar reminded all agencies that the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), forbid the use of any form of violence, harsh restraint, or coercive action against minors. He said children have the right to peaceful expression and should be protected at public gatherings.
The Commission pointed out that children are the worst sufferers of the lingering conflict in Manipur, which has continued unabated for over two-and-a-half years, causing serious damage to their physical, psychological, and emotional health. Recent MHPCC conducted across seven hill and valley districts showed that approximately 30-30% of the attending children had severe mental-health issues that needed follow-up. Alarming trends of child suicides, psychological distress, educational disruption, and school dropouts among displaced children were also highlighted.
MCPCR urged the security personnel to exercise maximum restraint and avoid lathis, tear gas, or physical force in the presence of children and adopt child-sensitive, non-violent crowd management measures. The Commission also called for an immediate and peaceful resolution of the displacement crisis so that children could return to safe environments conducive to education, growth, and healing, emphasizing that no more trauma or harassment should be inflicted on any child.