Lift net ban, roll back curfew : TC

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 20 : Taking strong exceptions to the imposition of curfew and internet suspension that has piled further misery on the masses, think tank Taragi Cheisu has urged the State Government to reconsider their move and withdraw curfew and internet suspension in 7 districts at the earliest.
Addressing mediapersons in a press meet convened this afternoon at Khurai Ahongei office of Taragi Cheisu, its chairman Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani said it would be wrong for the Government to think that imposing curfew will dissuade the public outcry following the killing of 6 women and children by Kuki militants after they were taken as hostage.
Clamping curfew will only increase hardships of the masses and invite more agitation.
He also pointed out that internet censorship has resulted in the collapse of many sectors including Government offices. He said the internet ban has caused immense inconveniences in the functioning of Court, education, banking, business and employment sectors leaving many high and dry.
Government may effectively use Cyber Crime units in cases of  social media misuse and book individuals or groups concerned but the blanket ban is never the solution and violates the basic rights of the citizens, he observed and urged the State Government to lift the ban at the earliest.
Terming the brutal killing of 6 women and children of Jiribam as "Jakuradhor Massacre", Taragi Cheishu condemns the incident in the strongest terms, he said.
Also condemning the killing of a woman farmer at Saiton and the Hmar woman at Jiribam, Khaidem Mani said that all kinds of violence and atrocities on innocent civilians be it Meitei, Naga, Kuki or Pangal, should be stopped at the earliest.
Demanding a high level probe into the "Jakuradhor Massacre", Khaidem Mani also said that the Government should declare organisation/organisations involved in such inhumane activity as unlawful under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
He also maintained that the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) should visit Jakuradhor and take a first hand account of the incident and do the needful.
He went on to say that the reimposition of AFSFA in areas under 6 police stations by the Centre without the recommendation of the State Government, was unexpected and unfortunate.
Khaidem Mani also expressed regret over lack of a collective approach among the civil organisations when it comes to dealing the present crisis and the political drama among the supporters and non supporters of elected representatives during such a critical juncture.
Had the Government worked sincerely and effectively, no such issue and public protests would have erupted. All these public outcries and protests are a result of shoddy governance and inefficacy in handling situations, he added.
He further said that the absence of a full fledged Governor during such a critical phase is unfortunate.
Chairman of Legal Cell of Taragi Cheisu and retired District and Session Judge, Aribam Noutuneshwari Devi also expressed her concern over the rise of crimes against women, children and innocent civilians.
Noutuneshwari also questioned what the police and intelligence were doing when the innocent women and children were taken hostage. Asking as to why they failed in securing safe release of the hostages taken by Kuki militants, she also demanded that a high level enquiry commission be set up to handle the case and make sure the victims are delivered justice.
Saying that the killers of the women and children including an 8-month old infant must be awarded strongest punishment, she also shared what victims are entitled for cases under POCSO act.
She added that the State should devise more security to safeguard the lives and properties of people of Jiribam,  specially Borobekra.
Secretary Law and Media of Taragi Cheisu, Aribam Goutam Sharma also attended the press conference.