By Jose Kavi

New Delhi, May 16, 2023: Jesuit lawyer Father Santhanam Arokiasamy on May 16 proposed a three-fold legal assistance to the victims of the recent violence in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.

Father Arokiasamy, who is the convener of the National Lawyers Forum of Priests and Religious (NLFRP), made the proposals in a letter addressed to the chief justice of India and the chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

“Manipur violence and the incident’s aftermath appear to be a huge tragedy. Deaths around 71, injured around 3,000, arson of worship places and related institutions in a big number, properties and houses numbering around 17,000 and displacement of people around 45,000 tell us that it is a huge tragedy,” the priest’s letter says.

He also points out that the violence forced people to leave their houses and take shelter in forests, army camps and shelters.

“Around 6,000 have reached neighboring states too,” added the priest, who has been practicing law for the past 23 years in the Madras High Court Bench at Madurai and the District Court, Madurai.

“I sincerely feel that at this juncture there is a responsibility for the legal fraternity to extend its services to the victims of Manipur violence. I sincerely recommend to NALSA to send a team of advocates to provide legal assistance to the victims. This could be coordinated with the Manipur Legal Services Authority,” the Jesuit’s letter proposes.

He wants the legal teams to help people register their losses after verifying them, or write petitions and lodge them with authorities.

Another proposal is to help the victims claim for the losses from the government and ensure the relief programs reach them without any hurdle.

Father Arokiasamy wants the legal teams to monitor the camp and shelters and the government programs and help the government to rectify them. “A team of lawyers should visit the places and bring out fact finding reports and reach them to the government,” he adds.

He wants the lawyers to manage a round-the-clock helpline and share its mobile numbers so that anyone in need and distress could call for assistance and guidance.

“The help desk could contact the officials and NGOs for addressing the needs and grievances,” the priest adds.

Father Arokiasamy recalls how he had led a team of lawyers during the December 26, 2004, Asian Tsunami, to provide legal services to the victims in Kanniyakumari district.

He said the NALSA’s direction to the state legal service authorities to respond to the tsunami crisis was well appreciated.

He also said the NLFRP, with around 200 members, is willing to work under the banner of NALSA.