Ensure the safety of human rights defender Babloo Loitongbam, his family and human rights defenders working with him
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), and Front Line Defenders (FLD), urgently call on the relevant authorities of the Central Government of India and the State Government of Manipur to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safety of Babloo Loitongbam and his immediate family and colleagues.
Loitongbam is an Indian human rights defender and lawyer. He is the Executive Director of Human Rights Alert (HRA), a Manipur-based human rights organisation. He has been a vocal advocate for peace and co-existence amidst the ongoing inter-ethnic violence in Manipur between the Meities and Kukis communities, which erupted in May 2023.
Hailing from the majority community of the Meiteis, Loitongbam has continually worked for the protection of human rights and peace in the state. However, radical groups have falsely accused him of siding with the Kuki militants and have targeted him for providing legal aid to displaced Myanmar refugees seeking asylum in the state.
Threats and Violence against Babloo Loitongbam
On 5 October 2023, Loitongbam’s house and residential office in Imphal was vandalised by unidentified perpetrators allegedly by the members of the radical group Arambai Tenggol. On the same day, the Imphal-based radical group Meitei Leepun also issued a boycott call against him, further escalating the threats to his safety.
In September 2024, Loitongbam faced renewed threats from the Meitei Leepun. On 22 September 2024, Meitei Leepun issued a warning for him to cease his peacebuilding efforts. The following day, on 23 September 2024, approximately 50 individuals visited his house, threatening his family with severe consequences unless he limited his public appearance and stopped his human rights work.
On 23 September 2024, Lointongbam issued a statement reaffirming his three-decade-long career in human rights advocacy, firmly denying any links to Kuki militant groups or individuals. He described these allegations as unfounded and reinforced his commitment to peace and justice in Manipur.
To date, law enforcement authorities have taken no meaningful action to investigate these attacks or hold the perpetrators accountable. Likewise, the allegations against Loitongbam have not been investigated and lack any legal merit, appearing to be politically motivated attempts to discredit his long-standing work in human rights.
Call to Action
The case of Loitongbam underscores the pressing need for the Government of India to ensure that human rights defenders, both in Manipur and throughout India, can carry out their work without fear of reprisal. Therefore, we call upon the relevant authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safety and security of Babloo Loitongbam, his family, and the staff at Human Rights Alert. We further urge the government to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the threats against Loitongbam’s life, the vandalism of his residence, and the baseless accusations levied against him.
Such actions are important not only to safeguard the rights of HRDs but also to align with India's obligations under international human rights law and the treaties and conventions to which it is a state party. This includes adherence to the rights to freedom of expression and association as outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Upholding these commitments is key to fostering an environment conducive to the protection and promotion of human rights in India.
