IMPHAL, Feb 20: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has strongly denounced the wrongful detention of three juveniles since February 15 in police custody in connection with the murder of a non-local civil contractor, Mangat Ram, that took place at Sehlon in Chandel district on February 14 last.
The persons in detention were identified as Shonkhopao, 15, son of Jamthong, Ngamminlun, 17, son of Jamthong, both from Sehlon, and Tiljangam, 17, son of Thongsei of Wayang.
In a press release, MACR pointed out that even if the teenagers are suspected to have committed the offence, they should have been placed under the charge of a special juvenile police unit or designated police officer of the concerned police station and should have been produced before the Juvenile Justice Board within 24 hours.
And as per Section 10 of Juvenile Justice(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, it has been clearly stated that in no case, a juvenile in conflict with law or a juvenile who is allegedly to have committed an offence and has not completed the eighteenth years of age shall be placed in police lock-up or lodged in jail.
Therefore, MACR made an appeal to the state authority to respect the constitutional laws and juvenile justice legislations and release the three youths from police custody immediately. If they are found to have committed any offence, then they should be produced before the concerned Juvenile Justice Board, Chandel district without further delay, it added.