IT News
Imphal, Nov 19:
The Meitei Alliance, India and the United Kingdom, has submitted a memorandum to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR), urging the international body to intervene in the escalating human rights violations and terrorist atrocities occurring in Manipur, India. The Alliance expressed grave concern over the increasing violence, particularly targeting the Meitei community, with Kuki groups allegedly committing heinous acts against innocent civilians, including women and children. They called for immediate action to ensure justice and security for those affected by the violence.
The memorandum provided details of a particularly disturbing incident that took place on November 11, 2024, when six people were abducted from a relief camp in Borobekra, Jiribam, by Kuki terrorist groups. The victims, identified as members of the Meitei community, included two elderly women, a young girl, a boy and an infant. The bodies of the victims were later discovered in conditions that shocked human sensibilities. The infant was found with his head smashed, while the other was discovered with his head and arms missing. The young girl reportedly showed signs of sexual assault, and the three women, including a 68-year-old, were also believed to have been sexually assaulted before being killed.
On the same day of the abductions, the relief camp where the victims had been sheltering was set on fire, leaving survivors without any protection. The memorandum also reported the deaths of two elderly male family members, whose bodies were found in similarly brutal conditions. The Alliance condemned the Indian government’s inaction, pointing out that despite the deployment of over 70,000 central security forces in the region, no effort was made to prevent these killings or rescue the victims. This failure to protect innocent civilians, including an infant, was seen as a reflection of the government’s lack of accountability and indifference to the growing violence.
The Meitei Alliance argued that the actions of the terrorist groups amounted to severe violations of international human rights laws, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The group also asserted that these acts could be classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, as outlined in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
In their memorandum, the Meitei Alliance made several appeals to the United Nations, requesting an independent investigation into the atrocities, urging the Indian government to take decisive steps to dismantle terrorist networks and protect civilians, and calling for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in Manipur. They also sought humanitarian support to ensure the safety and security of displaced populations, with a particular focus on women and children. The UNHCR has yet to respond to the submission.
