Noted Manipuri writer, humanitarian activist Ms Binalakshmi Nepram has reported being threat/harassment by Manipur State Police force. The incident happened on 12 May 2017 when a whole heavily armed Manipur State police force descended on Ms Nepram’s parental house in Imphal, Manipur in Northeast India that borders Myanmar.
Ms Nepram feels that this is done by those who have committed rights violations to deter the relief, rehabilitation and other forms of support given by her and her team to several women survivors of the state. Manipur has seen 6 decades of violence with immense humanitarian crisis with 20,000 people shot dead and over 20,000 women widowed in past years. State has one of highest armed forces and police forces presence in country and is heavily weaponised state.
Ms Nepram’s team have been working for 10 years for women survivors of violence but this is first time ever that state police force has been misused by those in power who have committed murder and rights violations of innocent people of Manipur. She is the recipient of CNN IBN Real Heroes and Indian of Year Award for her work in Manipur with survivors.
Ms Nepram has strongly condemned the incident and stated, “I strongly condemn the harassment given to me and my family members in ensuring justice and dignity of people of Manipur and urge Manipur Government to immediately stop this wrongful harassment by Manipur state security forces. Police are meant to protect citizens and not to be used to harass innocent civilians.We have stood strong for over 10 years for peace & justice for people of Manipur and entire Northeast Region and will not be bogged down by such threats and intimidation emanating from state machinery. I will take this up with appropriate authorities so that action be taken. Good governance and support for justice what we want from Manipur Govt and not this. Please stop this harassment immediately to me, my family and others who are fighting for justice and healing lives”
Strong condemnations to the threat & intimidation to Ms Nepram and her family has come in from different parts of state, country and world.
The article was sent by Binalakshmi Nepram, who is the founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and also the Convenor of Northeast India Women Initiative for Peace. She can be contacted at binalakshmi@gmail.com
