SFI, JNU Condemn Police crackdown on tribals from Manipur

SFI strongly condemns the massive police crackdown on tribals from Manipur in Chanakyapuri, Delhi. They were protesting against the passage of three bills by the state government, which they believe infringe on their land rights.

Around ten months back, 9 people were killed in Manipur protesting against the same bills. They are lying unburied in Churachandpur district of Manipur. On 7th June 2016, around one thousand people under the banner of Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi (MTFD) marched in protest to Manipur Bhavan against a delegation led by Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, who had come to get assent of the President for the Bills. They were lathicharged in the most barbaric manner. About 60 people are detained at Chanakyapuri Police Station. AIKS Joint secretary and former JNUSU president, Comrade Vijoo Krishnan who reached police station to enquire upon the matters was not even allowed to meet the officials or arrested people, many of whom are seriously injured.

The MTFD has been having peaceful protests in Jantar Mantar every day since 4th November 2015. They have met the President, Home Minister and different Ministers and exhausted all possible avenues for a peaceful resolution of the problem. A dialogue was the least the BJP-led Central Government should have facilitated. The Congress Chief Minister should also have tried to arrive at an amicable mutually agreed solution addressing concerns of the Hill Tribes as well as the Meitei people.

This is no way to deal with a protest. All democratic minded people and organisations should rise against such brutality. Whether one agrees with demands raised or not is immaterial. Such crackdown on protests indicates dangerous days ahead for all voices of democratic dissent and has to be spoken out against in the strongest manner.

~ SFI JNU Unit