Cashing them young

K SAROJKUMAR SHARMA,SUMIR KARMAKAR & OINAM SUNIL, TOI Crest, Feb 20, 2010, 01.20pm IST

It was a choice Nilomon wished he didn't have to make.A neighbour's contact had offered to take his little boy to a children's home in Guwahati.Nilomon,a daily wage earner,was very fond of his nine-year-old son Sanjit who was traumatised when he lost his mother and sister in the communal riots of October 2008,in his village,Rowta,in Assam.

Sending Sanjit away to a place where he would be taken care of seemed to him a necessary evil.Nilomon decided he would take up the offer.Little did he realise that the "Good Samaritan" was a child trafficker - perhaps part of a larger gang - and that he planned to spirit the boy out of Assam.

Days later,some student activists noticed Sanjit at Bongaigaon station.He was boarding a Chennai-bound train with great reluctance.They rescued the boy from the operator and sent him back to a relieved Nilomon.

Sanjit got lucky.But not 1,734 other children like him who have gone missing between 2007 and 2009 from Assam.

Children are a precious commodity in the northeast,especially in the two states of Assam and Manipur.Child trafficking has assumed the character of big business with whole cartels working at it.The destination of the hapless child is south,primarily Tamil Nadu.Although exact figures for Manipur were not available,sources said since last year close to 200 Manipuri kids,both boys and girls,were rescued from unauthorised homes in south India.

Children belonging to Zeirongang and Kuki tribes have become soft targets for traffickers.The lure is often free education.Eager to keep their wards safe from the insurgency and drug abuse in the region,parents often willingly give away their children and pay up to Rs 10,000 for their lodging and food.

Trafficking is not new to the north-east.The twist,however,is that operators have become more sophisticated.They now masquerade as evangelists and missionaries and enticing the poor parents with promises of upkeep and education,spirit their children away.

If the rescue operation carried out last month in Kanyakumari is any indication,the traffickers are mainly targeting Christian children.Which is probably why the garb of the evangelicals is a favourite ploy with the operators.

A SEASON IN HELL

Once the children reach Tamil Nadu,they find to their horror that they are put up in unauthorised homes.The living conditions at these homes are appalling (read box).

Eventually,the children end up as domestic servants,beggars,quarry or circus workers,or are used in the organ trade,drug peddling and smuggling.Many of them are also sexually abused.

Renuka Devi Borkotoky,head of the Assam unit of Indian Red Cross Society,believes that child trafficking has become an organised racket and is spreading like a rash in the north-east."Child traffickers step up their offensive when hundreds of families become homeless thanks to annual floods or ethnic clashes.These are the times when the people are most vulnerable," says Bokotoky.

In Manipur,the fact that its education system leaves much to be desired also adds to the lure of the traffickers.The general run of schools in the state is under-furnished and understaffed.Even where there are teachers,they play truant.Classrooms are in a state ruin.This is certainly not the best place for a child to study and come up in life.

HIGH ALERT

With increased incidence of child trafficking in the region,child's rights activists and NGOs are on high alert.Child Line,a child's rights organisation with national presence,was set up by the ministry of women and child development and given the mandate to curb trafficking.It has played a pivotal role in bringing back rescued children and rehabilitating them.

Mala Lisham,coordinator of Child Line Imphal,says in June 2009,25 children trafficked from the remote Kaibi village in Manipur were rescued from an Andhra Pradesh-bound train at Howrah."Around the same time,six girls hailing from Churachanpur were rescued from a bus terminal in Imphal just as they were about to be smuggled to Delhi," says Lisham.

Last year,her agency rescued 15 tribal girls from being trafficked to Chennai and three kids from an illegal home in Bangalore.

Despite the efforts of such organisations a number of cases of child trafficking still go unreported.

The slow judicial process adds to the problem.Most of the reported cases are pending in the courts,and the culprits manage to get bail and remain active.

Activists also complain of police apathy.A top official of the local Child Welfare Committee says,"The police have failed to recover children in over 70 per cent of the cases." The committee,comprising 32 NGOs,including some registered orphanages,is looking after the rescue and rehabilitation of the victims.

Despite the misgivings of NGOs,the state administrations seem to be on their toes.Officials in Tamil Nadu said the children rescued from the state and belonging to the north-east will be sent back after a probe.

Manipur's social welfare department has issued a notification making it mandatory for all to obtain its approval before taking children outside Manipur borders.

The department has set up an emergency child help line,1098,which could be contacted for immediate action if groups of children are seen in travel mode under suspicious circumstances at bus or taxi stands,airports,railway stations and hotels.

Will all these measures stem the trafficking trade? To some extent,yes.But the government - and police - needs to keep up the pressure and simultaneously address developmental problems in the region.



Sanjit's name has been changed to protect his identity

The alluring bait

Courtesy: The Sangai Express (editorial)

Over the past few days, a series of disturbing reports have surfaced in connection with rescue of a large number of Manipuri kids who have been taken outside the State by some unscrupulous persons on false promise of providing free and better education but were found abused and their hopes crushed. These reports must have shaken up the conscience of many people. What is even more disturbing in these reports is the fact that these young victims have come from poor families in far and underdeveloped parts of the State. This is not the first time that young boys and girls who were reportedly trafficked from Manipur on false promise of providing job or free education have been rescued from other places of the country and even abroad. Similar incidents have occurred in the past and there is no guarantee that it would not be repeated in the future. So, apart from urgency of identifying the hands and brains behind these trafficking cases and punish them accordingly, there is the need to understand why human trafficking is striving and Manipuri boys and girls are becoming the easy target.
Amidst these disturbing reports, finger of accusation has been raised over the motive of the parents in handing over their children to some people just because they presented a picture of the rosy future of their children. This is a point that needs to be pondered over and understood in its right prespective. Given the financial position of most families in this perpetually resource starved and financially crunched State, naivety and gullibility of the parents in falling over the glib tongue of the unscrupulous elements who promise a bright future for their children is understandable. Howsoever, poor they may be, there would be no parents in this globe who would not like to see their children living well and getting the best that life could offer. It is this weakness of the parents that makes them fallible in entrusting the future of their children to some unknown hands and it is this same weakness of the parents that is being exploited by the traffickers who come assuming the role of saviour of their children. The situation could be even more precarious in remote hill areas of the State where even the basic necessities of life are still considered luxury, forget about modern education or employment. Now the question is, would there be recurrence of child trafficking cases in Manipur, if the financial position of the parents were sound enough and there is easy excess to education ? It is the answer to this simple question that everyone should seek if the recurring problem of human trafficking with the alluring bait of job and education is to be stopped for once and all.

http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/fullstory.php?newsid=8465

By: Daniel Kamei
Courtesy: Hueiyen Lanpao

Tamenglong, February 20: Children numbering 52, who had gone to Nagercoil, Kannyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, Chennai for proper and quality education in 2006, have reunited with their parents today at Zeme Naga Baptist Church Complex, Tamenglong. However, a shocking news is that another 23 children, mostly girls are reported to be still missing.

Some parents, who were reunited with their children, cried in joy, but at the same time, worried about their future and their careers.
The Child Welfare Committee, Tamenglong formally handed over the 52 children to their respective parents this afternoon in the presence of D Gangmei, MCS, SDO Tousem, members of Zeme Naga Baptist Association, members of Zeme Naga Council Manipur and social leaders.
A free medical checkup was also held with the help of district Health Department assisted by Indigenous Women and Child Foundation (IWCF), Tamenglong, etc. at the church complex.

Mothers of those still untraced children want them to be brought back to their homes. However, they are helpless. One of them had sent her three daughters. The father of the daughters who went to search for his daughters has remained hospitalised, the source said.

Abenramyile, mother of a 12 year old girl Ibamlungle of Aben village said, she wants to bring back her daughter home but the person who took away the girl told them that the children were fine and let them continue their studies.

In the meantime, while talking to this correspondent, Kinderson Pamei, Coordinator of Child Welfare Committee, Tamenglong said that many parents cried in joy on being reunited with their children after waiting long time to return home.

Many parents want to send their children to get proper education for their future career. But there is no school in their respective villages, Kinderson Pamei said.

The department concerned needs to look into the matter seriously, and provide proper education to all the children and those rescued children too, as they should not lose their rights to get proper education.
Like other places, Tamenglong district needs to have children's home at the district HQ. On seeing around the district an intensive awareness.campaign also a must needed for interior remote villages to know about education and their rights, asserted Kinderson Pamei.
CWC Tamenglong also appealed the concern district administration to assist the rescued children to provide proper education and not letting the children to lose their future career.

In the meantime, a joint meeting of parents and social organizers in connection with the harassment to Zeliangrong student from Nagercoil, Kannyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, Chennai at ZNBC office Tamenglong today.

The joint meeting formed Joint Action Committee, JAC on trafficking of children of Tamenglong district comprising Zeliangrong Frontal Organizations like ZSU, ZYF, ZPB and ZNC Manipur.

The meeting elects GH Newme, President of ZNC (M) as Convener of JAC, ND Athuibou as its Vice Convener, Ramningle Pamei as general secretary and Alumei Pamei as Asst Secretary of the JAC form today. The JAC has another seven executive members and six advisory board.
The meeting also demands rehabilitation package for rescued children from Nagercoil, Kannyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, Chennai for school admission, uniform, scholarship components and accommodation. It also resolved to demands to bring back the other children missing from Tamenglong district.

It also resolved to demand awareness campaign for interior remote villages in Tamenglong district and resolved to file FIR to N Paul about the harassment of the innocent children in Chennai.

Rescued Tamenglong children say seven girl colleagues still missing

Courtesy:

Imphal Free Press: http://www.ifp.co.in/shownews.php?newsid=8089

IMPHAL, Feb 20: The boys from Tamenglong district rescued from Chennai recently were handed over to their parents today but seven girls who were taken along with those boys to Chennai are still untraceable.

According to the testimony given by one rescued boy Keheituing Newme, one social worker by the name N. Paul from Aben village of Tamenglong district had taken 52 boys and seven girls from Tousem area to Chennai in May 2006 after taking a sum of Rs 5000 from each and every child.

Paul had also taken 34 boys and girls from Assam along with them to Chennai and admitted all of them at Hands of Compassion Children Home at Alamadi, Tamil Nadu.
They had stayed there for about three years but later they shifted to Bedestha Blessing Children Home in Kanyakumari in May 2009.

All the boys were put up at Bedestha Home but the seven girls from Manipur and 10 girls from Assam were taken to Bangalore by Paul.

The whereabouts of these seven girls are still not known, Newme stated in his testimony.

Narrating their ordeal at Bedestha home, the boy further said that the children home is run by one pastor Koshaji who had exploited them in the name of imparting free education.

Although they were admitted in a private school they were not provided proper food, uniform, books and other requirements, he said.

They were made to do all household chores and even construction works instead of giving them good education, he added.

Owing to such ill treatment meted out to them, he said their health condition gradually deteriorated and also they became infected with various skin diseases and allergies.

Some of them also develop psychological problems due to the ceaseless torments they faced for many years at the children home, Newme added.

The children have also placed collective demands to the government for the establishment of a high school at Tousem area along with a playground with all sports facilities.

They also want welfare schemes for children, improving transport and communication system and providing rehabilitation and re-integration for the traumatized children.

These children were handed over to their parents in presence of MLA Awangbou Newmai, commissioner social welfare, director and other officials of state social welfare department.

55 rescued children handed over to their parents - Anti-trafficking cell in the offing

Courtesy:
http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/fullstory.php?newsid=8442

Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 20: Concerned over the high rate of trafficking of children from Manipur being frequently exposed in the recent two years, state authorities are discussing proposals for constitution of an Anti-Human Trafficking Cell in the state.

“We have already placed a proposal in this regard with the Director General of Police and we will soon be sitting down together on this matter with the Chief Secretary,” confided SK Sharma, Director of the Manipur Social Welfare Department.

“The committee or cell will comprise related departments such as education, labour, rural development, etc., seeing that somehow or the other all these subject areas are crucial factors and there is a need for co-ordination between all these departments if we want to check trafficking,” he added.

“Other preemptive and post-trafficking measures that we will be taking up include sensitization at the district and village levels, and sensitization of important stakeholders such as bus and truck drivers. We have already conducted sensitization workshops for church leaders,” he said, adding that the district Child Welfare Committee have been entrusted the responsibility regarding the counselling of both children, their parents as well as the locality to facilitate the social re-integration and rehabilitation of the children.

“We could also use the Anganwadi workers to monitor and give alarm about trafficking cases. Maybe trafficking issue could be made a part of the training given to them,” Mr Sharma acknowledged this morning at the Observation Home for Children at Takyelpat in Imphal West district where 52 children recently rescued from an illegal orphanage in Tamil Nadu were being kept for medical check-up and observation for the last 24 hours.

The children in the age group of 5-15 years and hailing from Namtiram, Npakang, Nniam, Magulong, Mandeu, Npaningdi, Tousem, Aben and Guilong villages in Tamenglong district, were rescued by Tamil Nadu state authorities on January 23 last alongwith with another 22 from Assam from Bethesda Blessing Home being run with authorization by one Shaji of Kaarakonam in Kanyakumari district.

They reached Imphal yesterday and were handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Tamenglong district this morning to be handed over to their parents.
They left Imphal for Tamenglong in two special buses soon after the handing over function.

For some of the children whose parents came all the way to Imphal to see them, it was a happy reunion. For mother of four, Namte, the excitement of reunion with her eldest son was also tinged with bitterness.

“When I used to enquire, they would tell me that my son has crossed the sixth standard, but when I spoke to my son yesterday, he confided that he studied only till Class IV. Though poor, as a parent, I wished for my son to get good education and shine in front of the world – be it for the sake of his people, for his country or for God. I believed in their words, how could they his to someone like me who has to toil the whole day as a labourer in the fields or on the roadside stone quarries for a square meal a day,” she ranted.

Namte also added that she has spent around Rs. 10,000 of her hard-earned money running around for all the required documents, besides entrusting a huge amount in cash for the upkeep of her son.
According to Bishnupur district CWC member Maharabi who was part of the team that had gone to Chennai to bring home the children, one Paul from Aben village in Tamenglong district had taken altogether 59 children including seven girls on the promise of education to Chennai in 2006. While the 52 boys were rescued from Bethesda Blessing Home, the whereabouts of the seven girls is still unknown.

At Bethesda Blessing Home, the children were being used as manual and construction labourers besides being denied proper food and clothes. They were also frequently beaten, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Tamenglong district CWC Chairperson Kinderson Pamei lamented that incidents of trafficking of children is not due to the failure of one or two departments or civil society organisations or individuals, rather it is a collective failure and requires a collective effort to rescue children from such cases in the future.
“The basic problem is poverty and ignorance,” stated Awangbo Newmai, MLA of Tamei Assembly Constituency in Tamenglong district. “We are trying our best to solve the problems and improve the living conditions of the people in the district but major factors like the recurrent bamboo flowering in the region for the last ten years has worsened the situation despite our efforts,” he admitted.

Khangthuanang Pamei, MLA of Tamenglong Assembly Constituency in Tamenglong district as well as State Social Welfare Commissioner Letkhogin Haokip were also present on the occasion.

NV Chandel protests assault

Courtesy: Sangai Express
http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local%20news-03.html

IMPHAL, Feb 19 : Student and teachers of Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya Chandel staged a protest demonstration today against ass- ault on one student of the school. One student reading in class XI was severely assaulted inside the dormitory by a group of people led by a father of class VIII student reading in the same school at 3.30 pm yesterday. The injured student has been admitted in RIMS.
Decrying the assault, students and teachers of the school staged a protest demonstration in front of the school gate at Liwa Sarei, Chandel today.
The incident has been reported to police while a memorandum has been submitted to the Chandel DC.
The protesters put up placards which read as “Don’t create disturbances in educational institutions”, “Don’t make unreasonable assaults on students” etc.

76 trafficked children return home in Northeast

Courtesy: The Sentinel

http://www.sentinelassam.com/northeast/story.php?sec=2&subsec=9&id=28632&dtP=2010-02-20&ppr=1#28632

Imphal, Feb 19: Seventy-six children, who were rescued after being allegedly forced into child labour in Tamil Nadu, were brought back to their homes in Manipur and Assam on Friday, officials said. The children, aged between 12 and 14, had been rescued by the Tamil Nadu police from Chennai and Kanyakumari last month. They arrived in Guwahati Thursday evening.

Of the 76 children, 52 were from Manipur and 24 from Haflong in north Cachar hills district in southern Assam. "The children from a poor background had been lured away two to three years ago by an unregistered NGO that promised their families better education in the southern metropolis. But they were allegedly forced into child labour and sexual exploitation," a police spokesman told reporters.

"The Assam Police and Social Welfare Department of Assam and Manipur in association with the Tamil Nadu police had rescued the children and brought them back to their homes," the official said. Police officials in Assam and Manipur will talk to the children later to know more about their captivity in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu police have arrested three people in connection with the child trafficking and are looking for others involved in the racket. (IANS)

Child Trafficking: A result of failure of government schools

Courtesy: http://www.ifp.co.in/articles.php
Imphal Free Press
By Keisam Pradipkumar
Yet another very shameful crime against the body and soul of an innocent child - “Trafficking in children,” strikes back in Manipur, robbing the childhood from a child. Thus making of “A child without childhood” starts off. The horrendous crime, targeting the Manipuri children is on a recurrently incremental scale. Around 200 cases of child trafficking have been reported during 2007 to February, 2010. However, this figure represents only the rescued cases. Above and beyond, local victims of the other forms of human trafficking are also yet to be discovered. Unquestionably the above data is only the tip of the iceberg as the large enough portion of the iceberg is still inside the water. So far our children, who were incarcerated in illegal children homes in Chennai and other south Indian cities without enough food, good cloths and education, were tracked down and rescued. Children narrated that they were subjected to physical and sexual harassments.

The ordeal of the children could have been lengthened for an unlimited time, if the Child Welfare Committee and other agencies of Tamil Nadu state did not locate and rescue them. Prior to it in October, 2008, five Tamenglong girls, who were rescued from Malaysia, narrated their nightmarish experiences suffered in Malaysia and Singapore under the game plan of Ricky Ho, who masterminded an international human trafficking network. The rescued girls reported that hundreds of Manipuri girls were serving like them in Singapore and being fooled by agents of Ricky Ho. Those girls were reportedly forced into prostitution. Tragedy is that, all the sporadic fuss over the scandalous incidents got lost in the mists of time, as if nothing was happened, till a next similar incident is exposed in media, that seemed to be a commonality of these human trafficking incidents. Astoundingly enough, not a single culprit has ever been awarded any exemplary punishment for the offence he or she had committed.

In the recent case of rescuing of 19 children from Chennai, two local agents from Manipur who lured the parents with false promises of giving free education were released on bail in Tamil Nadu. Any further legal action against the culprits in the home state, either from the parents’ side or police is not visible till date. In such a situation, police used to disentangle themselves saying no complaint is being lodged to them. However, past experience recounts something else, as many police stations would be reluctant to register FIR against the accused persons, but end up noting down only in diary, which does not have much legal implications. In several occasions, culprits got off scot-free and managed to get easy bail. They are much ahead of time, who take advantages of loopholes of the legislations enacted for combating human trafficking.

It is duly stated that 40% of India’s Police officers are unaware of child trafficking problem and for that mater, Manipur police would not be an exception. When police officers are to blame the parents for not complaining in time, magistrates take their turn against the police for not appropriately framing the charged sheets against the culprits under relevant legislations, that fault of police, magistrates defended, compelled them to grant bails to the traffickers. Such kind of sloppy tactics of the stake holders in the criminal justice system only offer escaping routes to the culprits. Thus many culprits still continue to engage in human trafficking, the 3rd largest trade next to drug and arms trafficking, that generates upto US $8 billion every year. Interestingly, this time too, Minister of social welfare besides the concerned commissioner and director of the state, forgot to announce any short of enquiry to book the culprits, except few public messages.

Another commonality of parents of the trafficked children would be – their economically poor condition coupled with relatively low awareness level on human trafficking issues. They had a cherished dream of sending their kids in good schools, however due to their impoverished economy they failed to pay the private school’s fees and related expenses, which they found too expensive to bear. Either they wouldn’t like to send their kids to government schools which are virtually paralyzed. In such a compelling circumstance, their minds could be easily maneuvered by the trafficking agents who offered promises of “free education, free shelter and food for their children”. We know how precarious is the condition of government primary schools, even mid day meal could not attract poor children. Surva Siksha Aviyan in the state got started with bombs only to end with peashooters; it has been sarcastically paraphrased now as “Sarvanash Sikhsha Aviyan”.

Government has announced that The Right to Education Act becomes legal from 1 April, 2010. Could the free and compulsory education for the children under 14 years be reached to the millions of children, which makes 40 percent of the total population of the country? If the budgetary size on education and health are to rely as an indicator, then the answer would be arguably negative. India allocates around 3 percent for education and around 1 percent for health while few developed countries in the world like the USA, UK and France spend around 6-7 percent of their national budgets for public education and health. How can we imagine a successful implementation of free and compulsory education, if government could not invest a reasonable budgetary allocation on education?

In India, the government spends Rs.9000 annually on a student reading in a Navovidyalaya, at the same time it spends only Rs. 846 on a child in a government run village school. How can the state ensure equity in education, if there is a sharp disparity in the government run educational institutions, leaving aside the private run institutions? India’s high sounding propaganda of its continuous GDP growth, is still miles away to give its astonishing impact in Manipur, at least if we take the stock of pathetic conditions of government schools in rural and hill areas. It is very doubtful that free and compulsory education would be much successful in the state, unless the culture of corruption, siphoning of funds, mismanagement and ill-governance are  stopped. We witnessed, in Manipur the high corruption in public offices dominates over other issues including insurgency, AFSPA and HIV/AIDS. Culture of Armed violence (not armed revolution), fake encounter are the byproducts of dehumanization process and political corruptions.

Since, child trafficking is only one of the manifestations of certain larger issues such as poverty, failure of government education, unemployment, hostile social environment or globalization. We need a holistic outlook to understand the dynamics of push and pull factors around the trafficking issues. Communitization of education for revamping the failed government schools should be prioritized in Leikais and Khungangs of Ching and Tam, besides parenting education, economic upliftment and mass sensitization on human trafficking. Trafficked children need further rehabilitation and restorative process to prevent possible re-trafficking cases as well as to regain normalcy. Hope, the state authority shall definitely provide the rescued children bringing back to Imphal from Chennai and Kanyakumaree, with the facilities of trauma counselling, medical care, economic and educational support, besides taking up legal actions against the culprits, in the best interest of the children.

76 rescued children, exploited in Tamil Nadu, reach Guwahati

Courtesy: http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/fullstory.php?newsid=8387

Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 18: Around 76 children, aged between 12 and 14 years, were rescued from Chennai and brought in Guwahati today even as Times Now has exposed the shocking truth behind child trafficking in India, follows the trail of 200 children picked up in Manipur and exploited in Chennai.

An Agency report said that another team around 76 children, aged between 12 and 14 years rescued from Chennai are heading their homes reached Guwahati today.

The children, mostly from Manipur and North Cachar Hill district of Assam, were lured away last year by two persons who promised their families of better education in the southern metropolis, the police said.
They were admitted to Ritz Children Foundation, an NGO in Chennai, and were allegedly forced into child labour and sexually harassed, police said.

Sources said out of the 76 children, 52 were from Manipur where they will be soon be returned. The rest are from North Cachar Hills.
The Assam police and social welfare department in collaboration with the police in Chennai had rescued the children and brought them here.
On the other hand, Times Now today alleged that around 200 traficked from Manipur were exploided in Chnnai.

Priya Devi is only nine years old. But she is one of two hundred children in Manipur promised a better life but cheated in the end finding themselves taken away to southern most parts of India far away from home, alieanted and trapped in a world of abuse and hard labour. TIMES NOW exposes the trail from Manipur to Chennai to Bangalore.
She is only nine years old but she's seen more injustice that many have seen in a lifetime.

Priya, 9-yr-old rescued from Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, said, "I was taken by a man from my home promising me education. But when I got there, they made me work."The men promised to give Priya a better life but four years later, her parents are devastated that their trust was betrayed.

The parents said, "Consider our poverty and concern for her future, we had decided to send her to get good education but what has happened is totaling contrasting." TIMES NOW was there when Priya was released along with 16 other children last month and with it began a rlentless chase to expose the shocking truth.

The first stop led further to Kanyakumari where another 76 Manipuri children were rescued. Priya's story is just one amon the 200 from Manipur, alienated, defenceless innocent lives trapped in an unforgiving world.

158 children reported trafficked during 2008-10

Courtesy: http://www.ifp.co.in/shownews.php?newsid=8038
Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Feb 18: Human trafficking is on the rise in Manipur with organized network of traffickers operating actively in the state but so far law enforcing agencies of the state have not been able to trace and crack down such network.

The most serious part in human trafficking is the issue of child trafficking which has been gradually on the rise in the state. As many as 76 children of the state were found trafficked and later rescued from Chennai this year alone and about 158 children have been reportedly trafficked from 2008 to 2010. There have also been many cases of human trafficking in the past too but so far not a single case has been filed to the police in this regard.

In most of the cases, the traffickers target ignorant parents and youths mostly in far off villages of the state and the local agents deceived the ignorant parents by making false promises of giving free education and jobs to their wards. In such manner children and youths are easily trafficked to other states and even to abroad.

It is prominent from the recent trafficking incidents that a well organized network of traffickers is operating in the state through some local people. Moreover there have been trafficking cases wherein young girls from the state were trafficked to Malaysia on the pretext of jobs and also the case of rescuing of five trafficked girls of the state from Dimapur and many such other cases.

Human trafficking used to be a flourishing lucrative business in the state until the recent cases of child trafficking came in the limelight. The traffickers might be planning for another venture in the state but as of now nothing can be traced out except for some local agents and house owners being arrested in Chennai in connection with the recent trafficking of 19 children from Bishnupur district.

Concerning the rehabilitation of children who have been rescued from the hands of traffickers, the officials of state social welfare department said that the child welfare committees of their respective districts have been entrusted with the task of providing care and protection to these children and necessary assistance would also be given as per the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act.

On the other hand, child rights activists of the state are of the view that the menace of child trafficking can be curtailed if mass sensitization campaign on child trafficking is launched in different parts of the state and also if the police is proactive to such trafficking issues regardless of cases being filed or not.

Meanwhile, those 55 children who were recently rescued from Chennai would be arriving Imphal tomorrow and subsequently reception functions are being organized at Takyel observation home and Char Hazare, Senapati district.

Education system peeves Ukrl villages

source- Imphal Free Prerss

1 days and 17 hours, 34 minutes, 29 seconds ago

IMPHAL, Feb 10: Members of various village education committees of Ukhrul district have expressed great discontentment over the conduct of education department of Ukhrul Autonomous District Council (UADC) which has failed to ensure even primary education to villagers.

A joint release of PASDO and Ukhrul District Alliance for Child Rights stated that the village education system in Ukhrul district is a complete failure with no proper infrastructure and necessary teaching staff.

Most of the primary schools are under UADC and the members of village education committee find a hard time pursuing officials of the education department as none of them are available at the office, added the release.

The committee further drew the attention of concerned authorities to look into the village education system which has failed to ensure the fundamental right of “right to education” to children.

School drops 68 students from HSLC list

6 hours, 47 minutes, 13 seconds ago

IMPHAL, Feb 17: Altogether 68 students of Little Master English Higher Secondary School, Shamurou, have been debarred from appearing the high school leaving certificate (HSLC) examination 2010 by the school authority despite of strict instruction from Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) to allow all students to appear the board examination this year even without fulfilling the eligibility criteria as a special provision for the students who have been affected drastically by the five months long class boycott in the aftermath of July 23 Khwairamband incident last year.

During a press meet held this afternoon at the office of All Manipur Students’ Guardians  Organization (AMSGO), Palace Compound, advisor AMSGO, Tomba stated that BOSEM has maintained certain criteria for students to be eligible to appear HSLC examination such as minimum aggregate marks of 33 percent in the examination conducted by their respective schools and class attendance of 75 percent but for this year all schools affiliated under BOSEM have been instructed to permit all students to appear HSLC examination without maintaining any eligibility criterion.

The examination forms for the said examination have also been issued to all schools by BOSEM as per the enrolment list submitted to the board as usual during the month of April every year, but 68 students out of the total 327 students of Little Master School enrolled in the April List have been debarred from filling up of HSLC examination form for failing or absent in the eligibility test conducted by the school during the class boycott period, he added.

Tomba said that the authority of Little Master School has violated the right to education of the students by defying the norms of BOSEM and added the school has even charged the examination fee much more than the actual amount.
Secretary organization, Sumati informed that those 68 students should come to AMSGO office for their queries before February 20 and appealed BOSEM and the authority of Little Master School to bring an admittable solution in this regard at the earliest.

Meet pledges to effort jointly for improving govt schools in Ukhrul

Source: Hueiyen News Service

Ukhrul, February 11, 2010: Realizing the negative impacts of failure of Government schools in the life of children and economy of the poor parents, Village Education Committee (VEC)/School Management & Development Committee (SMDC) from 15 villages came together in an interface meeting with district education office which was facilitated/organized by PASDO & Ukhrul District Alliance for Child Rights (UDACR), a district chapter of Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) yesterday at TTA Hall.

Members present in the meeting pointed out the issue of inadequate teaching staff in almost all the schools as the main factor affecting proper functioning of government schools.

Most of these Primary Schools are manned by 1-2 teachers.

Unable to send children to private schools VECs is taking initiative to run schools even by deploying private teachers with their own resources in the government schools.

Members felt that "Free & compulsory elementary education as a fundamental right of every child (6-14 years)" as guaranteed by government of India was a mockery to the deprived children of this region.

The meeting also discussed on the need for more regular monitoring/inspection by concern departments, timely supply of TLM and the need to activate and empower VECs ­for effective functioning of the schools.

Formation of federation of VECs in the district for better service was also mooted in the meeting.

Both the stakeholders pledged to improve the system by sincerely performing their duty and responsibilities.

Unfortunately, none of the Officer from Ukhrul Autonomous District Council Education Department was available for feedback/comment on those issues as the concern authority could not be available in the Office.

VECs expressed that non-availability of the concern authority in the office most of the time for sharing their issues/grievances has been a concern

CCRP demands children policy

12 hours, 33 minutes, 6 seconds ago

IMPHAL, Feb 10: Drawing attention of the social welfare minister, Nameirakpam Loken Singh, and seeking immediate intervention for protection of basic inherent rights of the deprived children in the state in the backdrop of the growing issue of trafficking and crimes against women, the Coalition of Children’s Right to Protection, CCRP, Manipur today submitted a memorandum to the minister.

In the memorandum the CCRP placed a charter of demands to ensure improvement in various sectors working to protects right of the children.

It appeal to the concerned authorities to immediately release the outstanding grant-in-aid amount, which has been pending for the last 10 months (from April, 2009 till date) to restore basic needs including food and education of destitute children sheltering in the eight government-aided children homes in the state besides taking up speedy legal action to book and punish culprits who had recently trafficked 19 children to Chennai and 52 children to Keinyakumari form the state, and also to continue with rescue operations at others possible child trafficking destinations.
It also urged for declaring a comprehensive “state policy for children” providing care and protection to chidren affected by conflict, victims of organized violence and children living with HIV AIDS in the forthcoming state Assembly session.

It also urged the government to announce compensation on humanitarian ground for the late Angom Chanbi and her teenage daughter, A. Menaka, 16, of Phayeng village, who were murdered after gang rape. It further called for sponsoring the educational and basic needs of the three orphaned children left behind by Chandbi and protect the right to life and right to education of the socially and economically deprived orphans of the state.

Further it demanded opening a destitute girls’ home, more shelters homes and after-care organizations at the earliest besides functionalizing the existing observation homes in the state.

It asserted to appoint the required Judicial Magistrate of the existing Juvenile Justice Boards in order to make the JJBs functional.

It also called for the implementation of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, ICPS, in the state at the earliest with utmost transparency and accountability, ensure trauma and psychological counseling to traumatised children and mental retarded children.

It also asked for raising an operational Juvenile Justice Fund for the state under Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act 2000 (and its amendment enacted in 2006) and provide financial supports to extremely deprived children.

Children as Traget

by by Lena Phanjoubam
The rates of crimes are increasing day by day. 
Everyday we come to hear and witness various sorts of crimes being committed-from TV, Radio, Newspaper- murder, rape, human trafficking, abuse, shoot outs-you name it!!.

On the one hand Government are taking up various plans, projects and schemes for the development and upgradation of our society, while on the other hand various sorts of crimes are being committed by perverts, criminals and such-even more so on women and children-the vulnerable lots. People had hoped that all sorts of misfortunes and disasters will be taken along the year 2009 and the coming year 2010 will bring peace and a new ray of hope. But, this is not so.

The New Year has barely started, all sorts of crimes are being witnessed. Like the cases of the recovering of the lifeless bodies of newly born infants-a lifeless body of a baby boy from Thoubal, and in another case-the finding of the dead bodies of two newly born baby girls from Tera Likram Leirak, yet again another lifeless body of a newly born infant found from the Lamphel supermarket, gender unknown as it lower half of its body was found missing (the deeds of some stray dogs). Such heinous crimes those heartless mothers who knew no love or pain –(only for pleasures or some monetary gains or whatever)-having no heart and soul, otherwise who would killed and discard away their own blood so mercilessly without any feeling. For such mothers, life seems only a game. Even animal are far better than them, for they knew how to love, care and protect their kids.

Then, there is the case of S. Sangeeta (34) who was found hanged at the courtyard of her residence. The reason- torture and ill treatment by her husband and his second wife. Which woman would deceit and desertion by her husband, her mentor who had promised to protect and cherish her throughout life, for in our society every married woman viewed their husband as their god, their protector, and if that protection turns against her, ignore her opt for another woman, then who would bear it.  

Then there is the case of rape and murder of a mother and her teenage daughter, who were found brutally raped and murdered by some unknown perverts. Akam ongbi Chanbi Devi (35) a widow and her eldest daughter Memcha (16) a student of class IX, were found abandoned some 800 meters away form their home at Pahyeng. Till date, who were behind these unthinkable crimes, remains unknown. Chandbi Devi had left behind three more children, two girls and a son. These poor children!! Ex-gratia may be given to them-even their education may be sponsored but there will remain a huge gap in their lives- the love, caring attitude, nurture, affection of their beloved mother-no one can substitute her or the love of their elder sister.

And, yet in another case, another woman, R.K Ratanmala (26) was also found raped and murdered by her boyfriend, a married man with children, at least in this case, the man surrendered himself to the police. An irate mob burnt down his house, and in the process some other adjacent houses were also burnt down, accidentally. But is the justice being duly delivered? Only time will tell.

Another issue which is still prevalent in our society is the issue of human trafficking, mostly women and children. In spite of various preventive measures and precautions, the crime or the act of trafficking is still going on in last month, there is the case of the rescuing of 76 children (54 from Manipur) who were found trafficked from Manipur to and Assam. They were rescued by the child welfare committee of Tamil Nadu. It is their good fortune amidst their misfortune that they were found and rescued in time, otherwise what would have become of them, the answer is unthinkable.

And in this month, another 3 children from the state who were trafficked to Chennai were rescued by the combined team of the CWC, Tamil Nadu and Manipur.
It seems that the preventive/precautionary measures being taken up by the Government, and other organisation is not adequate enough, otherwise why is such crime happening time and again.

The rate of crimes and conflicts are on the rise everyday. How, why, by whom? Questions everywhere. And there is no one who is capable of giving any satisfying answers. There is lack of awareness among the masses, lack of co-operation and co-ordination. Everyone is blaming everyone else, the Govt., the NGOs, the Human Rights and Child Rights Activists. No one is ready to accept the blame or to step forth.  
If this thing continues, how do we expect to solve the issues? Someone has to be bold enough to come forward, take the lead, awake the sleeping masses. Instead of waiting for someone or the other to solve the matter, we need to take it as our responsibilities. Let the government do their duties from their side. We the public also needs to extend our helping hand.

NGOs, organizations, Human Rights Activist needs to join hands, have proper network, co-ordination and work together for the cause. 
Doctors and staffs of the psychiatric department needs to come out of their respective clinics and hospitals give mass awareness and counseling-for many crimes are born of a pervert mind, of a mentally disturbed mind.

Police can also do their level best to look for clues, investigate the crimes through ever nook and corner and book the culprit. They can also be on the alert to prevent any sort of crimes.

Above all, parents and teachers should educate their wards on sex education, moral values, rules, and regulations, cultures and norms of our society. So that they grow into a well cultured and well behaved persons.

Crimes Against Women and Children

by Keisam Pradipkumar
My recent visits to Ukhrul district and Phayeng village stirred me to chew over on the clandestine nature of human trafficking, compelled migrations, unabated heinous crimes against hapless women and children vis a vis  globalization and prevailing system of political and economic injustice. As saying goes, that seeing is believable, I made attempts to scan what would be behind the scene I did see.  What I saw at Ukhrul was nothing but the visiblemass exodus of young girls to metro cities of the country. Was it that case of brain drain  as most of them speak English, smart and energetic;  or migration by choice  for better social and economic options, or was it linking with human trafficking for varied reasons in a clandestine way? Appallingly, even a remote village with a small population of 270 had unofficial record of group migration of 20 young girls to outside states. During the past one decade or so, several hundreds of girls had reportedly abandoned their native villages for their destination to different strange cities. 

Every one agrees that Tangkhul girls are admired for exceptionally nice-looking, hard working, and much sought after for warm hospitality to the guests. My probing mind got jolted, this time, as wherever we reached at any village, we were served   tea or warm water only by a horde of   middle aged women, not by young girls. My question was - where had all the teenagers just vanished off the face of the earth? It poked me to remember the shocking profile of AIDS devastated Uganda, where its entire younger population (those who are in the sexually active and productive age group) was inflicted and engulfed by HIV/AIDS pandemic, leaving behind surviving small grandchildren with grandpa and grandmas only.
Observing the hardships faced by underprivileged people, It was starkly evident that globalization and urbanization have rendered a ripple effect  to the impoverished economy, particularly the hill economy, which is utterly depended on cyclic Jhoom cultivation and diminishing forest products. The strait jacketing Globalization process in Manipur, under which no productive base infrastructures are embedded, truly a developmental aggression, brings out new sophisticated lifestyle based on costly consumerism. Since there is no equal distribution of economic opportunities, globalized commodities  only widen the gapping chasm between have and have-nots. Many families could not meet the ever rising demands of a costly globalized lifestyle. While the have-nots being lured, try to embrace the upcoming neo liberal economic challenges risking one’s own life, compromising moral and ethical obligations. Many promising young girls from valley and hills who dared to struggle for a better life in the globalised market, ended with terribly upset stories, as they were betrayedand exploited after being lured.

Interacting with some villagers, they revealed that these vanishing youths left for Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and other cities, where they have reportedly managed to get good jobs being  offered by different “Companies”. But villagers could not promptly give the details ofcompanies, job specifications, personal security etc. It is a fact that girls from north-east particularly from Manipur are still distained to bear the brunt of racial discriminations in mainland cities of Mera Bharat Mahan, specially the capital Delhi. I could read the apprehensions of the village elders that were buried under their sly smiles. Because the barbaric expression of racial discrimination such as physical assault, verbal abuse, sexual harassments, gang rape and murder as perpetrated by some mainland Indians had inflicted  many Naga and Meitei girls. One  Ramchanphy Hongray (19) from Ukhrul who was murdered  October last year apparently for resisting rape attempt at the apartment of 80/A at Munirka, Delhi being the latest victim.

The other day when I visited Phayeng, a Meitei schedule caste village, I met those traumatized three children left behind by a young widow, who was murdered along with her teenaged daughter after gang rape. The gruesome murder only depicted the magnitude of immeasurably insecure lives of socially deprived section of the society, such as widows, destitute children  and orphans in our society. That widow struggled to afford her fourchildren’s education, who all were studying at Donbosco School, challenging every foreseeable constraints and vulnerabilities she went through. That spirit and courage deserved reverence. However, the fragile co-operation of the locality in addition to laxity of police impeded the progress of crime investigation on the murder case. It’s an awful picture.

Interestingly, security forces came up to showcase their  good Samaritan gesture overriding legal procedures, when they dumped the three children left behind by late Chanbi to an orphanage.  Next turn is of revolutionary justice of underground outfits, if any, that also seemingly a far cry for the downtrodden people. State or nonstate, armed or unarmed groups – it makes less different, to the deprived people nowadays, for them ultimate justice is being throttled on many cases. The present conflict torn society, where rule of law got spirally collapsed, it’s a hey-day only for criminals.

Then, do we have legitimate moral rights to be proud of “Nupi Lan” (women’s uprising) fought against British imperialist and for the contemporary “Meira Paibee Movement” against narcotics, alcoholism and human rights violations?  Why should we take to mean “Ima Keithel” one of the largest markets in the world exclusively run by women, as a symbol ofOriental liberal society and unique social status of Manipuri women?  Would Sharamila  be happy with  the prestigious titles like  “Iron Lady” or “Nura Temshingnabi” when the same society who conferred  her the titles still continues to murder and gang rape of many hapless women and girls?

It is the high time to redefine the true value of campaign and observations, self introspection, redesigning the advocacy strategies, refocusing to outcomes by avoiding  the tokenism and ceremonial aspects from the activities. Ever escalating crimes against women  and children just during and after the observances, including the recently held Children’s day on 14November, 16 days Activism Against Gender violence Campaign started from 25 November, International Human Rights day on 10 December, Nupi Lan on 12 December speak volumes of the ineffectiveness of these observances, rallies and consultations so far. Are we somewhat misfiring or do we get backfired? 

 State   fails to take up short and immediate measures on the recent Phayeng rape and murder incident. There has been no effective crime investigation, culprits are moving scot-free, besides no rehabilitative process for the children left behind by the widow is taken up. Consequently, judiciary and police investigation could not offer trust to the public, who have opted an alternative justice – mob trail and mob justice. State police are pro-active only to counter insurgency operations under the shadow of impunity of AFSPA. Culprits of many heinous crimes hardly get punitive punishment. Highly exposed case of Miss Manorama, allegedly murdered after gang rape and custodial torture of one Miss Naobi Chanu by state police  commandos passed off without awarding any punishment to the  culprits. It is stated that In India, 22 women were killed each day in dowry-related murders in 2007 while, In Guatemala, two women are murdered, on average, each day. Nobody knows- how many of Manipuri women and  girl children must have been killed, tortured, raped, harassed, kidnapped and trafficked each day on this earth? 

Manipur widows demand right to life

source- Assam tribune
by-Sobhapati Samom

Imphal, Feb 7 – Twenty cases of crime against women and children including four brutal murders reported in the first month of the year speaks volumes about the violence against women in Manipur.

“It is terrifying to think how many women would be harassed or killed at the end of the year,” N Sunibala, 27 whose husband was killed in a BSF firing at Nongpok Sekmai village in Manipur’s Thoubal district three years back, said.

Sunibala continued that the spurt of crime against women and children has created a fear psychosis, particularly among the widows who are struggling to bring up their children and regain control of their lives after losing their husbands.

M Umarani, another widow from Bishnupur district lamented, “no concrete measures have been taken up to identify and arrest the culprits behind the recent brutal murder of mother and daughter”. One Angom Chanbi and her daughter Menaka were found murdered at Phayeng village in Imphal West district while another young girl Ratanmala of Khurai locality was found killed near Ningombam village.

Sunibala and Umarani were among widows who participated in the Conflict Widows Forum (COWF) Manipur, a body of women widowed by the ongoing conflict situation in the State and Women Action for Development(WAD), an NGO working in the field of gender and Social Awareness Service Organisation (SASO), another NGO working in HIV/AIDS sector, sponsored mass protest rally to air their anger over the recent spate of crime against women in the region in the last two months.

A meeting of the widows held after converging at a rally at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre near here, decided to seek President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil’s intervention to ensure the right to life of widows in the country.

COWF, in a memorandum evolved in the meet, urged for a clear-cut government policy for speedy trial of cases related to rape and murder of women. Copies of the memorandum will also be sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Union Minister for Home Affairs P Chidambaram, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath, Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.

The meeting besides demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the recent killings and to punish them as per the rule of law, want punishment to child traffickers in the State, as well as inclusive training on human rights, gender issues and child rights to government security forces.

Are our children being groomed to be future pillars?

source- Imphal Free Press

By Hrishikesh Angom
IMPHAL, Feb 4: There is a common saying “children are the future pillars of the society” which implies that the welfare of a society lies in the well-being of children. But how far the children of our state would be able to become good pillars of the society if they are deprived of their rights.

Care, protection, support and survival rights of children are guaranteed by the Juvenile Justice Act but this act is not properly implemented in Manipur where there are numerous case of child related issues like trafficking, delinquency, substance abuse etc.

The Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) was first enacted by the Parliament in 1986 to provide care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of neglected or delinquent juveniles and for the adjudication of certain matters relating to disposition of delinquent juveniles.

But JJA had to be again reenacted by the Parliament in 2000 in conformity with certain international conventions like the UN Convention on Rights of Child, 1989, UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, 1985 (The Beijing Rules), and the UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty, 1990.

JJA was reenacted by the parliament in 2000 with the provisions of creating special juvenile police units with a humane approach through sensitization and training of police personnel, enabling increased accessibility to a juvenile or the child by establishing Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committee and homes in each district or group of districts, minimizing the stigma and in keeping with the developmental needs of the juvenile or the child, separating the bill into two parts- one for juveniles in conflict with law and the other for the juvenile or the child in need of care and protection, and providing for effective provisions and various alternatives for rehabilitation and social reintegration such as adoption, foster care, sponsorship and aftercare of abandoned, destitute, neglected and delinquent juvenile and child.

However, the JJA was again amended and enacted in the year 2006 as “The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2006”.
JJA has been enacted effectively in all parts of the country but this act is yet to be implemented fully in Manipur.

As per the provisions and guidelines of JJA, each district should have a Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), children home for the juveniles in need of care and protection and observation home and special home for the juveniles in conflict with law (child delinquents).

CWCs have been formed in all districts of Manipur for ensuring care and protection of the children but JJBs in the state are still nonfunctional owing to non-appointment of magistrates who should handle the cases of juvenile in conflict with law (child delinquency).

JJB should have a judicial magistrate having special knowledge or training in child psychology or child welfare and two members who should be social workers working actively in health, education, or welfare activities pertaining to children for at least seven years.

In Manipur, members of JJB have already been appointed but the magistrates have not been appointed as none of the judicial magistrates of the state fulfill the criteria of being a magistrate of JJB.

There are also only three observation homes in the state in Imphal West, Senapati and Churachandpur which are again monofunctional due to security reasons. Lack of special homes for sheltering juvenile delinquents in the state is also a major setback in implementing JJA in the state.

Some children homes of the state are also not functioning properly due to non release of grant-aid by the state government for many months.

As welfare of children is the welfare of the state state government at least take up some positive actions towards implementing the Juvenile Justice Act effectively in the state.

Three more trafficked state children rescued from Chennai

source- imphal free press

IMPHAL, Feb 4: In yet another development, three more children of the state who were trafficked have been rescued by a combind team of Child Welfare Committee, Tamil Nadu and Manipur from Chennai today.

According to a reliable source, all the three children rescued today hails from Chandel district and they are being kept under the custody of CWC, Tamil Nadu.
Today’s rescue was made amidst preparations by a state team at Chennai for bringing back all the children who were rescued earlier by the CWC, Tamil Nadu from different destitute homes recently.

Mention may be made that at least 65 children of the state were rescued by the CWC Tamil Nadu recently and there has been hectic preparation for bringing back the trafficked children to their respective native places.

Following reports of rescuing large number of state children in Chennai in the past few weeks, the state social welfare department deputed two members of CWC, Manipur for bringing back the trafficked children of the state.

The two member team comprise of Sushil Kumar, of CWC Thoubal and Maharabi, CWC, Bishnupur and they were assigned to bring back all the children after finalizing necessary formalities.

Talking to IFP from Chennai over phone, Sushil Kumar disclosed that all the three children rescued today hail from Leikun village, Chandel district and they were rescued this evening from an unauthorized Children Home based in Chennai. The three children were identified as Serina, 8 years, Thanwar, 7 and Ngamwar, 12 years old.

Sushil Kumar further disclosed that he along with Maharabi were in Chennai from January 30 and they are engaged in conducting operation with local support to find out children trafficked from Manipur and to bring back such children to the state.

He further said a social activist from Nagaland namely Kenny has been extending all possible help to them towards finding out children trafficked from Manipur. The Tamil Nadu, IGP, DGP and other crimes branch officials as well as Anti Trafficking Cell, Chennai are also taking part in searching the children, he said.

According to Sushil Kumar, the three children were rescued today after a Manipuri tribal girl namely Ester from Chandel who is currently working in Lucknow gave the information to Kenny.
Ester however happen to be a person who brought the three children to Chennai in July last year July and fortunately she is now in Chennai to bring back the children and hand them over to their respective parents.

The three rescued children who are now under the custody of CWC, Chennai are currently kept in a government run Children Home.
However, the three children would not be brought back immediately to the state as they need medical check up and other formalities.

He also said that the two member CWC team from Manipur urged the CWC, Chairperson, Tamil Nadu, Dr. Manorama to complete formalities so that all the rescued children could be back in Manipur at the earliest.
Sushil Kumar also said he along with 16 children will be departing Chennai for Imphal today.

On the other hand, CWC, member of Bishnupur, Maharabi will be leaving Chennai tomorrow for Kanyakumari to complete formalities for 54 children of Manipur who were rescued from Tamil Nadu last month and it is also expected that he will be bringing the children along with the three children who were rescued today.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Police Department is conducting search operation of those absconding culprits who are behind child trafficking.

Report on 111 fake encounters, NHRC tells Manipur

Rahul Karmakar/HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times

Email Author

Guwahati, February 01, 2010

First Published: 20:32 IST(1/2/2010)

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Manipur government to furnish dossiers on 111 reported cases of fake encounters in the frontier state.

The apex rights body has also directed the State government to pay Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of RK Sanajaoba, nephew of former Manipur chief minister RK Jaichandra Singh, who was killed in an encounter on October 20 last year.

“Manipur has not been sending any reports about encounter killings,” the NHRC said, acting on a complaint filed by the Asian Centre for Human Rights. It directed the Manipur Chief Secretary to explain why reports were not being forwarded in 111 cases of alleged fake encounters.

In its January 28 order on the case pertaining to Sanajaoba’s killing, the NHRC stated: “The police has put up a theory that it is a case of accidental firing and the person sustained injuries as a consequence of which he died.

The deceased and one other person were returning home on their scooter, which was stopped on the way by some unknown police personnel of Manipur Police which was headed by a lady police officer. In the scuffle which took place one of the policemen took out the weapon and shot him on his chest from point blank range as a result of which he died on the spot.”

MHRC team conducts spot visit in mother, daughter murder case

Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 01 2010: A team of Manipur Human Rights Commission today conducted spot enquiry into the rape and subsequent murdered of mother and her teenage daughter at Phayeng in Imphal west district today.

The Commission which is conducting inquiry into the case has also asked the Lamshang police to furnish a report of police investigation into the same incident.

The spot inquiry conducted by the MHRC team led by Ng Nongyai was also participated by OC of the Lamshang Police Sstation, Joykumar and member of the Child Welfare Committee Imphal East, Keisham Pradipkumar.

The team first visited the three orphaned children left by Chanbi who are now living at house of the parental home of the decease under the care of their grand father Angom Amuthoi at Phayeng Nungpalching Leikai and inquired after their condition after their mother left them.

The three orphan children, Sarika (13), Dingku (10) and Rita are living in the house of their grant father at present.

The MHRC member inquired of the grandpa whether he would be able to look after the children and take care of their future life or whether he wants to hand over the responsibility of the adopting the children to the appropriate authority.

In reply to the question, the aged old man firmly said that he want to raise up the children under his care.

He also informed that they will be sent to appear in the final exams which is starting from Wednesday (February).

The three children are studying at Don Bosco High School, Phayeng.

They are preparing for the exams, he further informed.

However, Amuthoi expressed dissatisfaction with the police for not nabbing the culprits till date.

Consoling the grand father, Ng Nongyai termed the incident as unfortunate and assured appropriate action with the completion of inquiry at the earliest.

Nongyai asked the OC, Lamshang to speed up the police investigation and submit the charge-sheet to the court so that culprits are punished as per law.

He also appealed to the family and relatives of the deceases to cooperate with the police investigation.

The team also visited the house of Chanbi where members of the All Manipur Meetei Christian Forum were already there.

They pleaded the commission to take up appropriate action so that such "heinous" crimes do not recur.

While giving his comment on the case, Ng Nongyai citing postmortem report observed that the mother and daughter was suspected of being killed by throttling their necks after rape.