INDIA: Security agencies suspected in the murder of a young journalist in Manipur

Dear friends, 

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is informed by the Human Rights Alert (HRA) about the murder of a journalist in Manipur, India. It is reported that the scribe, Mr. Konsam Rishikanta Singh, working for the Imphal Free Press was shot dead near a place called Second Sangai Home in Langol Hill range on November 17. There are allegations that the security forces stationed in Manipur is behind the murder, as it happened in a high security area, where anyone who commits such an act cannot escape undetected. 

CASE DETAILS: 

Konsam Rishikanta Singh is aged about 22 years. Singh was the Junior Sub-Editor of one of the prominent English language daily–the Imphal Free Press (IFP). On November 17, Singh was expected to join duty at his office at 5pm since he was assigned the night shift. However, while Singh failed to report to work, an unidentified person called the editor of IFP, Mr. Pradeep Phanjaobam, on his mobile telephone and enquired whether Singh has reported to duty. When Phanjaobam informed that Singh has not reported to work, the caller informed Phanjaobam that Singh was shot dead near Langol area. 

Huiyen Lanpao, a local daily in Manipur was also informed about Singh’s murder. Reporters and friends from Huiyen Lanpao rushed to the area where Singh was reportedly shot at. As they reached the area, they could see commandos from the Manipur State Police at the crime scene. It is also reported that the area where Singh was shot at is a high security area where a person to enter or depart from the area has to clear at least three security gates staffed by state security forces. 

The body was soon removed from the scene and an autopsy was conducted at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal. It is reported that there were three projectile injuries on the body, one below the chin and two on the upper torso. While the detailed ballistic and forensic report is awaited, the fact that three shots fired at Singh hit him suggests that the assassin fired at Singh from a relatively lesser distance and should have attracted the attention of the security personals guarding the area. The silence on the part of the security forces, it is alleged, is indicative of the involvement of the security forces stationed in the state in this incident. 

On the next day the All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) held an emergency meeting at the Manipur Press Club. The meeting condemned the killing and held a protest rally on the same day evening. The AMWJU also suspect the security forces as behind the murder. The AMWJU later on the same day submitted a written memorandum to the Chief Minister of the state demanding for a judicial enquiry into the incident and further demanding compensation to be paid to Singh’s family by the state. 

Since the government failed to meet these demands, the AMWJU organised a sit-in protest in the state capital on November 20. The AMWJU also said that they would stop working from November 20. On November 25, the members in the state cabinet demanded the state Chief Minister to hand over the investigation of the murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The cabinet meeting was convened specifically to discuss about the progress in the investigation into the murder. On a similar footing the Editors’ Guild of India has filed a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India seeking an intervention to ensure proper enquiry into this case. 

The HRA informs that the killing of Singh is the latest in the series of murders of scribes, carried out both by the state as well as the non-state armed opposition groups. The HRA reports that Mr. R. K. Santatomba, the editor of Kangla Langpung was killed in 1993, Mr. H.A. Lalrhlolu, editor of Shan was killed in 1999, Mr. Thongnoujam Brajamani, editor of Manipur News was killed in 2000, and Mr. Yambem Megha, a correspondent of Vision North East was killed in 2002. In 2006 there was an attempt on the life of Mr. Ratan Luwangcha, the Secretary General of AMWJU. But he survived. 

The HRA further informs that in none of the cases cited above there has been a police investigation which resulted in a conviction. While the outlawed armed groups continues to pressure the local media to carry their handout and propaganda material as news, the security forces and the police exerts undue pressure upon the media whenever a news of violation of human rights and corruption are exposed by the media. 

Last month for example, on October 10, 2008, the Manipur police threatened the editors of three local dailies (the Sangai Express, Poknapham and Naharolgi Thoudang) when they published news exposing the nexus between Manipur police and the smugglers active in the state. The news exposed the delivery of 13 truckloads of Urea that was reportedly smuggled from India to Burma to manufacture illegal drugs. The AMWJU condemned the police action and further asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to tender an apology. The AMWJU also informed the DGP that he would be responsible if anything happened to the journalists who covered the news. 

There is no direct evidence to directly link the killing of Singh with this exposure. Nevertheless, the fear generated by the killing and the government’s studied indifference is expected to have conveyed the message clear and loud to the media about the consequences they could face if they try to write against the police or anyone in the security forces stationed in the state. 

The HRA informs that it is of the opinion that the killing of Singh is intended to generate a sense of fear and to silence the media from exposing the criminals within the law enforcement agencies. 

SUGGESTED ACTION: 
Please write to the authorities mentioned below demanding an investigation into the case. The AHRC has written a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression calling for intervention in this case. 

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