NHRC's Camp Sitting in Manipur<br>

The National Human Rights Commission held its Camp Sitting in Imphal, Manipur from the 23rd - 25th October, 2013. Total 46 cases were taken up during the Camp Sitting. Out of this, 22 cases of deaths in police action were taken up by the Division Bench-I, comprising Members, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph and Shri S.C. Sinha and 20 cases of deaths in police action by the Division Bench-II, comprising Chairperson, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan and Shri Satyabrata Pal, and four cases were taken up in the Full Commission Sitting.
In six cases of deaths in police/security forces action, Rs. 32 lakh were recommended as monetary relief. In nine cases of human rights violations, notices were issued to show cause why monetary relief should not be recommended. Three cases were closed on receipt of proof of payment of compensation of Rs. 7 lakh from the State government. It was asked to submit reports within four to six weeks in cases where the recommendations of the Commission were pending for decision for a considerable time.
The Commission has recommended investigation by the CBI in the matters relating to the Loktak Lake and Churachandpur District Hospital which were visited by the Commission. Senior civil and police officers, including Chief Secretary and DGP, appeared before the Commission. Besides, a number of family members of the victims also appeared and submitted their grievances.
Earlier, a team of the Commission comprising Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph and Shri Satyabrata Pal, Members, Smt. Kanwaljit Deol, Director General (Investigation), Shri Anil Pradhan, Special Rapporteur, Shri A.K. Parashar, Joint Registrar (Law) and other officers met the human rights activist Irom Sharmila at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences. She has been on an indefinite fast demanding the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
On the concluding day of the Camp Sitting, the Commission had an interaction with representatives of non-government organizations, who raised several issues of human rights. Later, the Commission took up these issues in its meeting with the senior officers of the State government, including, the Chief Secretary and DGP. They were also asked to inform the NHRC about the death in police and judicial custody within 24 hours and death in encounter within 48 hours as per its guidelines. They were also asked to take action on complaints in time and avoid delay in submission of compliance reports to the Commission.