On December 29, 2023, a renowned HRD and musician Akhu Chingangbam was attacked and kidnapped at gunpoint in Manipur. He is a social activist and a former physicist and founder of the folk-rock band Imphal Talkies band is known for singing protest songs about politics, insurgency, human rights issues and racial attacks across the north-eastern states.

The targeted attack on the HRD amounts to a violation of life and liberty. Every person has a right to life and liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution 1950, Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966.

HRDA urgently appealed to NHRC to exercise Section 12 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, and take suo moto cognizance of this incident and initiate an independent inquiry through NHRC’s investigation wing.