The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has issued an urgent advisory to security forces and the administration after reports emerged of injuries sustained by child protesters during recent public demonstrations in the State.
In the advisory, the Commission’s Chairperson, Madidun Keisam Pradipkumar, expressed serious concern over incidents of lathi-charge, assault on vulnerable body parts such as the head, chest and back, and cases of young girls fainting due to tear gas exposure, including the recent Pukhao incident.
These actions were described as grave violations of child protection laws and international child-rights norms.
It was reminded by the Commission that the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) categorically prohibit the use of violence, coercive restraint or force against minors under any circumstances.
Children, it stated, hold the right to peaceful expression, and their presence in public spaces during unrest must not be interpreted as a security threat or anti-state activity but rather as an expression of vulnerability and a plea for reassurance.
The Commission further noted that children are among the worst affected by the ongoing crisis in Manipur, which has persisted for over two and a half years. Findings from its recent Mental Health and Psychosocial Care Clinics (MHPCC) conducted across seven hill and valley districts revealed that around 30% of attending children exhibited severe mental health issues necessitating continued treatment.
Rising cases of child suicides, psychological distress, school dropouts and disrupted education among displaced children were also highlighted.
Security personnel were urged to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from using lathis or tear gas in the presence of minors and strictly follow child-sensitive, non-violent crowd management practices.
The Commission emphasised that all law enforcement and security agencies must adopt a protection-centred approach in their interactions with children during public gatherings.
Calling for an immediate and peaceful resolution to the displacement crisis, the Commission stressed that restoring safe community environments is crucial to ensure education, protection, healing and hope for affected children, and that no child must be subjected to further trauma, harassment or targeting.
