After his attempts to reach out to acclaimed child climate activist yielded no results, Pradipkumar questioned why Licypriya does not appear in any public forum, except “a post with Biswajit saying the next CM, what is relevancy with her campaign and announcing a minister as the next CM.”
TFM Report
Former Member of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights Keisam Pradipkumar, a well-wisher of child climate activist Licypriya Kangujam, has expressed dismay that she has dodged his attempts to reach out to her on her Facebook page while she responded to many people’s comments at the same time.
Keisam Pradipkumar who had raised concern with Delhi Commission for protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) after the popular child climate activist was allegedly subjected to media trials following the arrest of her father Kangujam Karnajit Singh on charges of fraud, assault and criminal breach of trust.
In his complaint, Pradipkumar alleged these reports defamed her as the “front of her father, questioning the legitimacy of her climate change activism, even challenged the genuineness of awards she has received.”
Acting on his complaint, DCPCR took up the process for the care of the child. However, District Child Protection Unit-South (DCPU-S) and SHO of Safdarjung Enclave Police Station reported that the address of the child could not be found despite several efforts.
Following which, DCPCR dispatched two letters to him on 29/08/2021 and 23/12/2021 to provide the present address of the child in Delhi before 11/01/2022 (in the last letter), and stating that if no report is received by the DCPCR the case would be closed.
Responding to the DCPCR, Pradipkumar stated that he sent a letter to DCPCR on 29 December, not to close the case. He also registered “his anguish against their way of dealing the case” and no reply is back till day.
In an attempt to reach out to Licypriya, Pradipkumar wrote on her FB page and also dropped a message on her messenger to let him get her present contact number. However, the girl didn’t give any attention to his query though she responded to many people’s comments at the same time, he lamented.
After his attempts to reach to acclaimed child climate activist yielded no results, Pradipkumar questioned why Licypriya does not appear in any public forum, except “a post with Biswajit saying the next CM, what is relevancy with her campaign and announcing a minister as the next CM.”
The child rights activist was referring to a now-deleted post on Licypriya’s FB page of a photograph of her with Works Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, who is contesting from Thongju Assembly Constituency in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Elections. With the photograph, Licypriya wrote, “With the next CM of Manipur! Not just humble, he is very down to earth leader where we will hard to find in this world. My best wishes! (sic).” However, the post was removed soon after screen shot of the post started trending on social media platforms.
Pradipkumar also vented his ire at DCPCR and questioned what steps it has taken on the issue of media trial and online traumatizing the child because of any alleged mischievous and criminal activities of her father Mr KK Singh.
“My request was not addressed till now. During those days, the media tagged the minor girl with her father in a very sensationalised way in various reports being published in many local and national media, and as a result of that whether the child suffered deep trauma and compelled to hide at some undisclosed place or she has been still kept isolated intentionally by someone else is yet to ascertained,? he rued.
He further said, “I expected from a dignified child rights panel like DCPCR, some landmark directive/judgment or advisory to prevent such unwanted media trials and vulnerable exposure to any minor girl (which may be applicable to similar incidents in future too).
“I also anticipated the competent authority of DCPCR would be directing the Delhi Police and Manipur Police to provide all the necessary information, as the father of the child was arrested by the police on 30th May, 2021 from Delhi Safdarjung Enclave. The concerned police and Manipur police team must have every updated detailed information of the child and her family, he added.
“However, I am quite amazed to receive your letter or so called “Advice”, asking me to provide you with the “present address” of the child with a notice that if I fail to provide the same the case would be closed from your end,” he said.
“Had I known it, why should I have concealed and given DCPCR, Childline Delhi and CWC II Delhi all these troubles to trace out the child. And afterall, I am a child rights activist based in Imphal only and how could I go and search out all these facts, when the Delhi DCPU, CWC, DCPCR and Childline failed to trace out the same,” Pradipkumar wrote to DCPCR Sr Consultant Mohd. Salam Khan.
It may be noted that eight days after release of Kangujam Karnajit Singh on bail on 2 February, Licypriya Kangujam has appeared on social media with her usual publicity stunts. After lying inactive for over eight months since the arrest of KK Singh, she started updating her Facebook page regularly interacting with her fans.