State fails to furnish action taken report on attacks on minorities

Imphal, February 6 : Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, HT Shangliana today said that Manipur government failed to furnish detail reports of action taken by state authorities with regard to 14 cases of atrocities meted out to the Meetei Christians minorities in the state.

The Vice Chairman arrived here today on his five day visit in the state to take stoke of the conditions of the minorities particularly that of Meeteis following Christians.

During his stay in the state, he will also conduct spot visit to the places where Meetei Christians are settled.

On his arrival in the state capital, HT Shangliana held an interaction programme with representatives of NGOs working for the minority Meetei Christians, Meetei Pangal and Meetei Budhists.

Chairman of the State Minorities Commission, Helim Choudury also took part in the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice President, HT Shangliana said that even though the National Minority Commission has sought detail reports of action taken on the cases related with the atrocities received by the Meetei following Christian religion like burning down of churches in their localities through the state chief secretary, state government failed to furnish those till date.

The commission has sought reports of 14 cases against the minorities.

When examined into the cases of incidents atrocities against minorities in the state of Manipur, he found burning and dismantling of churches at Taothong, Phumlou, Phayeng, Lamding (Wangjing), Chingmeirong and Sekmai etc.

and forced cremation of dead bodies of Meetei Christians by the majority communities.

The vice chairman is looking after the charge of north eastern states, Orissa and Jharkhand.

Even though, he had intimated the Manipur government to furnish detail reports of the action taken up by the state government with recommendation for the said atrocities against the minorities, the same is yet to furnish by the state authorities, Shangliana added.

Unable to get the reports sought by him, he personally came here to take stoke of the situations of the minorities, he said adding that during his stay in the capital, he will meet with the state Chief Secretary and DGP and held discussions on the torture and violence against the minorities.

He will also hold meetings with commissioner (home), Deputy Commissioner of districts to discuss on the action taken reports of the cases.

If no action was found taken then he will ask them to take appropriate measures, Shangliana added.

He also assured the NGOs present in the interaction programme that he will thoroughly examine the memorandums submitted by them with the Chief Minister and will ask the later to protect rights of the minorities.

During the programme, the vice chairman also sought the cooperation of the media in controlling violence against the minorities.