Left Women's Org Urges Amit Shah to Alleviate Impact of Manipur Violence

New Delhi: The National Federation of Indian Women has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, expressing deep concern about the ongoing violence in Manipur. 

The outbreak of violence on May 3 has caused unimaginable devastation, leaving thousands displaced and homeless and more than 140 dead. 

Signed by Annie Raja, General Secretary of NFIW, and Nisha Siddhu, National Secretary, called for urgent action to alleviate the hardships faced by the people of Manipur.

"The relentless violence that has engulfed Manipur has caused immense suffering to the people of the state," the NFIW, women's wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI) said. It highlighted the distressing situation of numerous decaying dead bodies lying unclaimed in several mortuaries across the Northeastern state since the first week of May 2023.

In the letter dated July 18, the women's organisation appealed for the immediate intervention of Shah to address the urgent matters arising from the crisis in Manipur. The organisation emphasised the need to constitute a Medical Board, led by an independent forensic expert from a reputed medical institute, to conduct post-mortems on the dead, including the unidentified bodies lying in the morgues before vital evidence is destroyed.

One of the pressing concerns raised in the letter is the lack of cold storage facilities in hospitals, which has further compounded the anguish of grieving families. The NFIW requested the urgent allocation of necessary resources to ensure the hospitals have access to adequate cold storage facilities. This provision is crucial in providing a dignified resting place for the deceased and allowing their families to mourn and perform the last rites with the respect and solemnity they deserve.

Furthermore, the letter appealed to the Home Minister to designate an officer who could be contacted by families of missing persons feared dead. The officer's role would be to facilitate visits by such families to mortuaries under escort or protection, enabling the process of identification and handing over of the dead bodies.

Another critical appeal made in the letter is to ensure the safe passage of the families of the deceased to Manipur. This arrangement would enable them to claim the bodies of their loved ones and conduct the necessary and dignified last rites. The organisation emphasised the importance of allowing bereaved families to bid farewell to their loved ones swiftly and safely, with the support and arrangements provided by the state.

The women's organisation expressed hope for a positive response from the Home Minister and emphasised the urgency of the situation in Manipur. The outbreak of violence has left a profound impact on the collective consciousness of the state, and immediate measures are needed to address the distressing circumstances faced by the people of Manipur, NFIW said.