Joint Statement: Condemn mob lynching in Manipur – Justice for Bogimayum Farooque

Condemn mob lynching in Manipur

Justice for Bogimayum Farooque

Joint statement

Dated, 14^th September 2018

1. We, the undersigned, are shocked at the brutal murder of a youth Bogimayum Md. Farooque Khan (@ Furkan), by a cruel mob on 13^th September, 2018, at Tharoijam village, Imphal West (Manipur). We are also shocked at the dereliction of duty by the police at the crime scene, who, instead of making timely response to admit Farooque to a nearby hospital for an urgent and adequate medical treatment, were involved in wasting time that amounted to letting the victim suffer for a prolonged time and reportedly die on the way.

2. Late Farooque (aged around 26) was the son of Bogimayum Nasib Ali and Phundreimayum Rahamjan of Lilong Houreibi Mayai Leikai, Imphal West. After achieving post-graduate degree in MBA from Karnataka College of Management in 2016, he had established a Bamboo Restaurant at Wangoi Bazar, Imphal. In the evening of 12^th September, he had reportedly gone out of his home to visit a friend at Thoraijam village. Photo and video uploads on 13^th September indicated that, while two of his associates had reportedly escaped, Farooque was probably fallen into the hands of a communally motivated mob at Tharoijam Awang Leikai under Patsoi Police Station. He was lynched on the basis of the allegation of an attempted robbery.

3. The Chief Minister of Manipur had condemned the incident. So far, Police had arrested some persons and investigation has been reportedly continuing. It is also being informed that the two associates of Farooque who had reportedly escaped would be brought under custody for fair investigation. This response is being seen positively by many. However, people are worried that justice could be either delayed or denied. Many voices are raising up demanding fair investigation and justice.

4. Contextually, mob violence and media-trial on the basis of frame-up charges have become a regular feature. There is either inadequate political will by the regimes in power or considerable amount of collapse of justice delivery system to redress this problem. The breakdown of law and order promotes a cultural milieu of commission of hate-crime with impunity. Many have been irreparably victimised by combined onslaught of such hate-crime, mob violence and media-trial. There is high risk of security threats and destructions to the lives and properties of persons belonging to the weaker or vulnerable or minority sections. It is high time that there is collective effort to redress the breakdown of law and order.

5. Against this backdrop we would like to register our strong protest against the culture of hate-crime in general and mob lynching in particular. We strongly condemn the incident of 12^th September and place the following demands;

• There should be fair investigation into the cases leading to the mob lynching of Bogimayum Md. Farooque.
• Those persons who were directly involved in the mob lynching of Bogimayum Md. Farooque should be severely punished as per law.
• Dismiss from service the policemen at the crime scene who were responsible for the dereliction of duty as cited above.
• To fulfil the demands mentioned above and also to prevent mob lunching in any form by any section of the population; the Government of Manipur must strictly follow the Supreme Court Guidelines, vide, judgement dated 17^th July 2018 against WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 754 OF 2016.

[ Statement drafted and list prepared by Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur). Entry of endorsement began on 14^th September morning and closed at 12: 50 AM of 17^th September.]

Names representing either organisation or individuals are being organised alphabetically as follows:

Signatories:

Sl. No.                                 Full name                                                           Institution/ Organisation