IHRA demands immediate revocation of FIRs

Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI, May 23: The International Human Rights Association (IHRA) Manipur has strongly condemned the FIRs lodged against its president and demanded immediate revocation of the same as per United Nations General Assembly Resolution on protecting human rights defenders.
It may be noted that the Federation of Haomee (FoH) and Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL) had reportedly filed FIR against the IHRA Manipur Chapter President for allegedly inciting communal enmity on social media handles. Also, an FIR was registered against the Dr Mark Haokip based on the complaint of Inspector N Thangzamuan in July last year.
The IHRA Manipur president was summoned to appear before the Investigation Officer, Churachandpur Police to record a statement yesterday.
Following the summon, the youth wing of IHRA Manipur chapter assembled in front of Churachandpur Police Station protesting the summon and FIR against the president which resulted in the arrest of five of the IHRA Manipur youth wing volunteers.
IHRA Manipur Chapter has stated that the state government and the district authority concerned must immediately withdraw the summon order and revoke all the FIR against its president.
It also strongly condemned the alleged assault meted out to its youth wing volunteers and supporters.
It strongly rebutted that the allegations against its president are unfounded and a deliberate sinister design to defame and discredit him.
It further said that failing to withdraw the summon order and revoke all the FIRs against the IHRA Manipur Chapter President, will result in a large-scale mass protest along with its supporters from statewide to nationwide.
The summon and the FIRs against the IHRA Manipur Chapter President were also strongly condemned by the IHRA Sadar Hills and IHRA Tengnoupal District.
Seimang Khongsai, president, IHRA Sadar Hills also demanded authorities to take disciplinary action against the Superintendent of Police of Churachandpur for mistreating, inhuman and degrading treatment against the harmless civilians and beating some women participants.
Ch Lhunkhothang Mate, president of IHRA Tengnoupal said that the state government’s extreme partisanship policies between the communities is hurting the peaceful co-existence.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had intimated to the CS, GoM to look into security concerns of Dr Mark T Haokip, however a source from the IHRA Manipur Chapter has allegedly said that the IHRA Manipur chapter president is yet to receive security coverage.