NHRC takes up case filed by Yambem Laba over phone tapping issue

In a sensational revelation, the National Human Rights Commission of India has registered a case filed by Mr. Yambem Laba, Ex-Acting Chairperson, Manipur Human Rights Commission and Senior Correspondent of the prestigious national newspaper, The Statesman, regarding a phone tapping issue of his private conversation with Ms. Thounaojan Brinda, Ex-Additional Superintendent of Police of Manipur.

A press release issued on Tuesday by the Centre for Organization Research and Education (CORE) of Manipur, an NGO, with special consultative relationship with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, stated that the conversation took place on October 3, 2023 at about 8:30 PM from their personal mobile phones. The private conversation was leaked out on the intervening night of 13th and 14th December, 2023, and started to appear on social media platforms, namely, WhatsApp and Facebook. This private conversation became viral.

Soon after, a mob of people entered the home of Ms. Thounaojam Brinda, who was one of the persons that had taken part in the private conversation, located in Yaiskul Janmasthan, Imphal. Members of the mob vehemently protested the contents of the private conversation and proceeded to vandalise the house of Ms. Thounaojam and her family, destroying properties including national and cultural heritage items of historical importance to the people of Manipur and India. The mob further threatened to attack the house of Mr. Yambem Laba as the next target.

According to the complaint lodged by Mr. Yambem Laba the private conversation that he suspected was tapped by an unknown entity with malicious intent of leaking it to the public and causing mischief and action by certain unknown persons that directly threatened the parties involved in a private telephonic conversation.

President of CORE, Lailungbam Debabrata Roy, said the police complaint filed by Ms. Thounaojam has been acknowledged and registered by the Cyber Crime Unit, Manipur Police along with a previous complaint filed by Ms. Thounaojam on 21 December 2023.

"The issue of tapping this private conversation is a serious violation and breach of the rights to privacy, and safety and security guaranteed by the Constitution of India to every citizen and the relevant laws to protect and promote such rights," he said.

According to reliable information received from the National Human Rights Commission, the matter is being taken up for further investigation and actions.

The Centre for Organization Research and Education (CORE) of Manipur, an NGO, with special consultative relationship with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, expressed its concern that the matter has become a centre of attention for the people of Manipur at a time that the State is in deep crisis.