Defending Truth Under Fire: The Case of Yambem Laba, NHRC’s Intervention, and the Ongoing Battle for Human Rights in Manipur
🕊️ Defending Truth Under Fire: The Case of Yambem Laba, NHRC’s Intervention, and the Ongoing Battle for Human Rights in Manipur
Introduction: When Speaking Truth Becomes a Crime
In India’s troubled northeast, voices of truth often echo against the barrels of guns. The recent abduction of senior journalist and human rights defender Yambem Laba from his home in Imphal on 12 February 2025, marks yet another dark chapter in the long struggle for press freedom and human rights in Manipur.
Laba, a respected journalist with The Statesman and former Acting Chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, was abducted at gunpoint by 15–20 unidentified armed men, detained for over seven hours, and coerced into apologizing for his public criticism of militant groups. This was not an isolated incident, but part of a pattern of intimidation that has silenced journalists, activists, and defenders across conflict zones in India.
Front Line Defenders and Global Solidarity
Recognizing the gravity of this incident, the Front Line Defenders (FLD) — an Ireland-based international organization that protects human rights defenders at risk — issued an urgent appeal on 19 February 2025, calling on the Indian authorities to ensure Laba’s safety and to investigate the threats against him.
Front Line Defenders’ intervention underscores the international concern about India’s shrinking civic space. It signals a growing pattern where journalists and human rights defenders—especially in regions affected by ethnic conflict—are systematically targeted for exposing uncomfortable truths.
NHRC’s Suo Motu Action: A Ray of Institutional Accountability
Responding to my petition dated 19 February 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India took suo motu cognizance of the case and, on 11 November 2025, issued a formal notice (Case No. 20/14/4/2025).
In its communication, the NHRC directed the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Imphal to conduct an independent inquiry and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 15 days. The Commission explicitly recognized that the allegations amounted to serious violations of human rights.
This development is not just procedural—it is symbolic of the resilience of India’s human rights institutions, even in times when democratic values are under strain.
Who Is Yambem Laba? The Voice of Manipur’s Conscience
Yambem Laba is not merely a journalist—he is Manipur’s conscience. Through decades of fearless reporting, he has consistently exposed human rights violations, government failures, and the corrosive influence of both state and non-state actors in perpetuating violence.
His work has been instrumental in amplifying the stories of victims from both Meitei and Kuki communities, challenging the dominant narratives that often dehumanize the “other.”
In the months leading to his abduction, Laba had:
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Publicly criticized militant groups for suppressing dissent.
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Questioned the role of the state in escalating ethnic violence.
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Called for transparent investigations into extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions.
For this courage, he paid a price — threats, gunfire at his home, and now, abduction.
The Broader Context: Human Rights Under Siege in Manipur
Manipur, since mid-2023, has witnessed deep ethnic polarization and targeted violence, with hundreds killed and thousands displaced. Amid this chaos, journalists and activists who advocate for peace and accountability are facing systematic intimidation.
This is not just about one state. The situation in Manipur reflects a national trend — the criminalization of dissent, digital surveillance, and weaponization of sedition and anti-terror laws against those defending human rights.
As the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998) reminds us, the state bears the primary responsibility to protect and enable defenders, not persecute them.
Front Line Defenders and NHRC: Converging Forces of Hope
The collaboration—whether intentional or coincidental—between Front Line Defenders’ international advocacy and NHRC’s domestic intervention represents the ideal model of multi-level human rights defense.
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Front Line Defenders amplified the case globally, applying diplomatic and moral pressure.
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NHRC leveraged its statutory mandate to demand accountability from the state machinery.
Together, these actions embody the principle of complementarity — where local activism, national institutions, and international solidarity converge to defend human dignity.
The Role of Civil Society and Human Rights Networks
This case also underscores the importance of grassroots networks such as the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and allied organizations, which continue to bridge local realities with international human rights frameworks.
As human rights defenders, we believe that the protection of one voice like Yambem Laba’s safeguards the freedom of all voices. Silence, after all, is complicity.
Reclaiming the Republic of Conscience
The abduction of Yambem Laba is not just an attack on one man—it is an assault on the freedom to question, to dissent, and to dream of justice. Yet, the swift response from Front Line Defenders and NHRC offers a glimmer of hope.
India’s democracy, though tested, still holds the seeds of self-correction. It is upon us—civil society, journalists, and human rights defenders—to nurture these seeds through truth, solidarity, and nonviolent resistance.
As Dalai Lama once said, “When you practice acts of compassion, you bring happiness not only to others but also to yourself.” Defending human rights is not an act of defiance—it is an act of compassion in the service of humanity.
References & Links
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NHRC Order: Case No. 20/14/4/2025 (11 November 2025)
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Front Line Defenders Urgent Appeal (19 February 2025)
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News Source: Telugumopo.com Report on Yambem Laba’s Abduction
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| NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION |
| MANAV ADHIKAR BHAWAN BLOCK-C, GPO COMPLEX, INA, NEW DELHI- 110023 |
| Fax No.: 011-24651332 Website: www.nhrc.nic.in |
| (Law Division) |
| Case No.- 20/14/4/2025 |
| Date : 11/11/2025 |
| To, |
| THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE IMPHAL MANIPUR Email- dc-impe@nic.in THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE Imphal, Manipur IMPHAL MANIPUR Email- sp.iw-mn@gov.in,spimphaleastdi |
| Sub : Complaint/ Intimation from |
DR. LENIN RAGHUVANSHI |
| Subject: Action Taken Report Called for(ATR) -20/14/4/2025. |
| Sir/ Madam, |
| The complaint/ intimation dated 19/02/2025, was placed before the Commission on 11/11/2025. Upon perusing the same, the Commission directed as follows: |
| A complaint dated 19.02.2025 has been received from Lenin Raghuvanshi in the Commission through email (ienin@pvchr.asia) on 21.02.2025 containing that: |
| 2. Accordingly, I am forwarding herewith a copy of the complaint/ intimation as an attachment for taking appropriate action in the matter as per the directions of the Commission. It is requested that an Action Taken Report be sent to the Commission within 2 weeks from the date of receipt of this letter. |
| 3. Any communication by public authorities in this matter may please be sent to the Commission through the HRCNet Portal (https://hrcnet.nic.in) by using id and password already provided to the public authorities (click Authority Login). Any Audio/ Video CDs/ pen drives etc. may be sent through Speed Post/ per bearer. The reports/ responses sent through email may not be entertained. |
Your’s faithfully     |
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