Attempted shooting of the daughter of human rights defenders Sobita Mangsatabam and Urikhimbam Nobokishore
On 4 July 2019, a group of unidentified men travelling in a four-wheel drive fired shots at Urikhimbam Thoibi, the daughter of human rights defenders Urikhimbam Nobokishore and Mangsatabam Sobita. The assailants had trailed Urikhimbam Thoibi on her way to her grandfather’s home before shooting at her in Imphal, Manipur.
Sobita Mangstabam is a prominent human rights defender in Manipur who has been working for the rights of women and girls in Manipur for over two decades. Her organization, Women’s Action for Development aims to promote and protect the rights of women and girls, especially survivors of violence, including sexual violence. Sobita is also the Convenor of the District Women Committee (DWC) of United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNMM). Sobita is a strong advocate for accountability and justice for crimes of violence against women and girls. She provides support and protection for survivors and their families and has been vocal in her call for criminal justice reform to end impunity for violence against women.
On 4 July 2019, a group of unidentified men travelling in a four-wheel drive fired shots at Urikhimbam Thoibi, the daughter of human rights defenders Urikhimbam Nobokishore and Mangsatabam Sobita. The assailants had trailed Urikhimbam Thoibi on her way to her grandfather’s home before shooting at her in Imphal, Manipur.
Sobita Mangsatabam is a prominent women human rights defender and the secretary of Women Action for Development (WAD), an Imphal-based NGO that advocates for women’s rights.
Urikhimbam Nobokishore is a human rights defender and secretary of the United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNM-M), a network of NGOs working on issues related to indigenous peoples’ rights.
On 4 July 2019, at around 6.30pm, Urikhimbam Thoibi was driving to her grandfather’s home with her sister-in-law and a child when a four-wheel drive packed with six to seven unidentified men started trailing their vehicle closely and honking at them continuously. The men in the four-wheel drive then proceeded to verbally abuse Urikhimbam Thoibi and her friends before overtaking them.
The men continued to follow and harass Urikhimbam Thoibi and her companions from the opposite side of the road, all the way until they arrived at her grandfather’s home. Upon their arrival, Urikhimbam Thoibi and her companions stepped out of their car and shouted back at the men in the four-wheel drive. Following this, the driver of the four-wheel drive started to open fire on Urikhimbam Thoibi and her companions before speeding away toward Canchipur. Urikhimbam Thoibi and her companions were physically unharmed during the incident as they managed to seek shelter inside the house.
Urikhimbam Nobokishore and Mangsatabam Sobita believe that the attempted shooting of their daughter is in retaliation for the human rights defenders’ work in defence of indigenous rights in Manipur, as this is not the first attack against them. On 4 October 2018, both defenders were targetted by unidentified armed persons. The police had refused to file a complaint lodged by the human rights defenders regarding the incident until recently.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned about the attempt on the life of Urikhimbam Nobokishore and Mangsatabam Sobita’s daughter as it is believed that it is solely motivated by their peaceful and legitimate activities in defence of human rights.
