In her complaint, the former cop contended the IDPs at various IDP camps since May 2023 are the victims of conflict-induced displacement fleeing chaos and threats of random violence. She alleged the state has failed to provide their safety and security by abdicating its responsibility to protect its citizens. The IDP camps run by the Manipur government are not “relief camps” because these IDPs are lodged for their protection till their safe return to their respective places.
TFM Desk
Thounaojam Brinda, former Assistant Superintendent of Police, Manipur, has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the alleged suicide incident at one Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Kwakta reported on July 6, 2024.
In the complaint which the NHRC has assigned diary number 10817/IN/2024, the former cop stated that the victim, identified as one Angom Premkumar, a resident of Tuibong, Churachandpur district had been taking refuge at the IDP camp since May 2023 due to ethnic violence.
She maintained that the victim stayed at a prefabricated house opened at the Government-run sericulture project at Kwakta, along with his family members for the last few months as they could not return to their home due to the non-guarantee of their safety and security by the Government of Manipur.
On 6 July 2024, the victim was found dead inside the IDP camp and he appeared to have taken his life. District police claimed that the victim was facing “mental health issues” and that appropriate legal procedures had been initiated, she said, giving the link https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/man-displaced-in-conflict-dies-by-suicide-in-manipur-reliefcamp-say-police/article68379296.ece) for more details.
Citing the Imphal Free Press report by sharing its link https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/suicide-blown-out-of-proportion-manipur-cm, Thounaojam Brinda said that on the contrary, “Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the report about a person staying in relief camp committing suicide had been blown out of proportion…the victim had a history of alcoholism before the incident”.
She maintained that the victim’s family has every reason to believe that Angom Premkumar could have been killed due to hopelessness as they are confined at the IDP camp and could not return home any time soon. “This is not the only isolated incident, another IDP attempted to kill himself at Takmu Water Sports Complex under Keibul Police Station in Bishnupur district,” she added sharing a link https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/manipur-one-more-attemptssuicide-by-hanging-at-relief-camp.
She noted that displacement usually takes place in two situations – conflict-induced displacement and development-induced displacement. The IDPs who are taking refuge at various IDP camps since May 2023 are the victims of conflict-induced displacement as they have to flee chaos, threats of random violence and the state has failed to provide their safety and security by abdicating its responsibility to protect its own citizens, she said.
In the complaint, she alleged that the Government of Manipur, in an attempt to abdicate their responsibility to protect human rights, terms these IDP camps as “relief camp”. She submitted that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been created to ensure better protection of human rights and for matter connected therewith or incident thereto.
She mentioned that Section 12 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights, 1993 urges the NHRC “to inquire, suo-motu or on a petition presented to it by a victim or any person on his behalf into complaint of violation of human rights or abetment thereof or negligence in the prevention of such violation, by a public servant.
The former cop also cited Section 12 (c) of the Act that urges that the NHRC shall examine living condition of any jail or detention centres which is meant for the purpose of treatment, reformation, or protection under the control of both central and state governments. The IDP camps run by the Manipur government are not “relief camps” because these IDPs are lodged for their protection till their safe return to their respective places, she contended.
Thounaoja Brinda urged the NHRC to direct the Secretary to the Chief Minister of Manipur to furnish relevant documents if any to substantiate the allegation of Chief Minister of Manipur as he has stated that “the report about a person staying in relief camp committing suicide had been blown out of proportion…the victim had a history of alcoholism before the incident”.
She demanded the District Magistrate, Bishnupur district be directed to furnish magisterial enquiry report as it appears that the victim has taken his life at the IDP camp which is under the control of the state government. The
He also demanded that the Superintendent of Police, Bishnupur district be directed to furnish the status report of the investigation being carried out in connection with the case as District police claimed that the victim was facing “mental health issues” and that appropriate legal procedures had been initiated.
She pleaded the NHRC to direct the Chief Secretary to the Government of Manipur to pay suitable monetary relief to the next of kin of the deceased and any action that the NHRC feels proper in the interest of justice.