Children worst affected by Loktak operation: rights groups

Source- IMPHAL FREE PRESS
Children worst affected by Loktak operation: rights groups
7 hours, 41 minutes, 33 seconds ago
IMPHAL, Apr 20: The ongoing Operation Summer Storm being carried out by the security forces in the Loktak lake area including Keibul Lamjao National Park area grossly violates the fundamental rights of the children of the surrounding villages such as the Ithai, Khordak, Arong Nongmaikhong and Laphupat Tera.The was stated by a fact finding team of the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, MACR, and Coalition on Children’s Right to Protection, CCRP, who visited the area on April 19 and found that besides the 3000 displaced villagers, there were as many as 1300 school going children studying in six different schools which were closed due to the operation.The schools which have been closed because of the operation are Nongmaikhong Junior High School, Emanual Grace Academy Nongmaikhong, Nongmaikhong Govt LP School, Nongmaikhong Girls Primary School, Eden Garden English School, Laphupat Tera Khunou LP School.Further, the Balika UJB School situated at Sekmaijin having more than 100 students has been occupied by the security forces since March 28, the report from the team said.The two bodies have made an appeal for the immediate calling off of the operation as the prolonged closure of the schools on the eve of the term exams was in gross violation of the fundamental rights of the right to education of the children.The heavy deployment of the security forces and firing of heavy artillery etc. had traumatised the children who were also open to threat from epidemics at the relief camps which are highly congested with poor sanitary conditions, it said while stating that many children were found lying on the floor at the relief camps with signs of weak health.