The 2018 report of the Secretary-General drew attention to concerns about the application of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010 (FCRA) to civil society for their cooperation with the UN (A/HRC/39/41, para. 50 and Annex I, paras. 60–67). On 20 December 2018, three special procedures mandate holders addressed the detrimental impact of the FCRA for Indian organizations’ ability to access foreign funding and expressed concern that that, under the FCRA, Amnesty International India and Greenpeace India and some of its affiliates have had their offices raided, bank accounts frozen or registration suspended or cancelled (IND 28/2018). 57. In the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, para. 50 and Annex I paras. 63–65), it was reported that the Centre for Social Development (CSD) and its staff had been surveilled for submitting information to and meeting with the UN on uranium mining and cement factories in Meghalaya, and consequently the organization’s bank account was frozen for 6 months on claims that it violated the FCRA. In April 2019, the CSD reportedly filed a case against the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Manipur High Court, which is currently ongoing. In May 2019, the organization received notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs indicating that under the FCRA its bank account was de- frozen and activities could be resumed. It is reported that the Secretary of the organization, Mr. Nobokishore Urikhimbam, has reportedly been surveyed by military intelligence officials at his office premises and at his home in Imphal. In November 2018 as well as in April and May 2019, the CSD and some of its staff were also reportedly under surveillance by individuals who questioned the staff, including at their places of residence, about their activities and sources of funding.

Allegations of reprisals against the Centre for Social Development (CSD) in Manipur and its staff, including its secretary Mr. Nobokishore Urikhimbam, were included in the 2018 and 2019 reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 57; A/HRC/39/41, para. 50 and Annex I paras. 63–65) on allegations of surveillance and freezing of their bank account for cooperation with the UN. On 11 September 2019, special procedures mandate holders (IND 18/2019) raised concern about the suspension of registration of CSD, and the surveillance, threats and attacks against its staff and their family members. It was reported to OHCHR that in October 2019 the CSD’s license under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010 (FCRA), which had been suspended, had been reinstated. 73. Mandate holders drew particular attention to the 4 July 2019 attempted shooting of Mr. Urikhimbam’s daughter, which appeared to be linked to his work in defence of human rights and his engagement with the UN (IND 18/2019). On 5 July 2019, the family of the victim filed a complaint at the Singjamei Police Station and, two weeks later, a First Information Report was registered by the police. Due to a fear of further reprisals, the mandate holders noted that Mr. Urikhimbam cancelled a trip to Geneva to represent CSD and United NGOs Mission Manipur in discussions on the margins of the July 2019 session of the Human Rights Committee, and also in September 2019 to attend the Human Rights Council. As of May 2020, it was reported to OHCHR that the alleged perpetrators of the attempted shooting of Mr. Urikhimbam’s daughter had not been identified.

On 31 July 2020, the Government responded in detail to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report. Regarding the situation of CSD in Manipur, the Government stated that the FCRA has been enacted to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by individuals or associations or companies to ensure that funds are not used for purposes detrimental to India’s national interests. The FCRA registration of CSD was suspended as it has been assessed and found to be in violation of this Act. Regarding the preventive detention of Mr. Parvez, the Government stated that it has been drawn from the cases registered against him Under Section (U/S) 151, 107 Code of Criminal Procedures (CRPC) for his activities against the public order in the past few years. The Government noted that a person who is under investigation for a criminal case registered against him under law is required to cooperate with the investigating agencies, and should not try to leave the country till the investigations are completed.

66. Allegations of reprisals against the Centre for Social Development (CSD) in Manipur and its staff, including its secretary Mr. Nobokishore Urikhimbam, were included in the 2020, 2019 and 2018 reports of the Secretary-General.173 Staff had reportedly been under surveillance for submitting information to and meeting with the UN on human rights and other concerns related to uranium mining and cement factories in Meghalaya, and, consequently, the organization’s bank account was frozen on claims that it violated the FCRA (IND 18/2019). In a separate incident, special procedures mandate holders drew particular attention to the attempted shooting of Mr. Urikhimbam’s daughter, which appeared to be linked to his work in defence of human rights and his engagement with the UN (IND 18/2019).
67. During the reporting period, concerns raised about the suspension of registration of CSD in September 2019 (IND 18/2019) and the surveillance, threats and attacks against its staff and their family members and that of other organizations in the United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNM-M) reportedly continued. Between October and December 2020, uniformed and plain clothed police officers allegedly surveilled CSD’s offices on a daily basis. OHCHR has been informed that CSD has refrained from sharing information, in particular, detailed reports gathered about environmental damage and health risks to communities from mining in Manipur, with the UN for fear of further reprisal. Given the September 2020 amendments to the FCRA, CSD is concerned about the receipt of foreign funds which they rely on for their research and advocacy, including at the UN.
68. Regarding the attempted shooting of Mr. Urikhimbam’s daughter in July 2019, it was reported to OHCHR that as of May 2021, the investigation remained pending. Mr. Urikhimbam’s family reportedly provided the police with the names of five witnesses who could provide information on the shooting, but the police reportedly declined to consider gathering their testimonies.

80. The situation of the Centre for Social Development (CSD) in Manipur and its staff, including its secretary Mr. Nobokishore Urikhimbam, were included in the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of surveillance, the freezing of bank accounts under the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) and attempted killing of close relatives for his human rights work and his engagement with the United Nations in relation to uranium mining and cement factories in Meghalaya (IND 18/2019). During the previous reporting period, CSD allegedly refrained from sharing information on environmental damage and health risks to communities from mining in Manipur with the United Nations for fear of further reprisal.

78. The situation of the Centre for Social Development (CSD) in Manipur and its staff, including its secretary Mr. Nobokishore Urikhimbam, has been included in the reports ofthe Secretary-General 103 since 2018 on allegations of surveillance, the freezing of bank accounts under the FCRA and attempted killing of close relatives for his engagement with the United Nations in relation to uranium mining and cement factories in Meghalaya.

79. Special procedures mandate holders addressed 104 the case of Mr. Urikhimbam concerning the registration of the CSD. According to information received by OHCHR, CSD’s renewal of registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has not been formally acknowledged or granted. On 23 March 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified CSD that the validity of their registration certificate under the FCRA was extended until 23 September 2023. During the period, CSD and its staff have reportedly been under constant surveillance and periodically visited in their offices by individuals who ask about their activities and whereabouts. CSD has notified the Ministry of Interior about these visits, both in person and in writing, to no avail.

80. On 18 July 2023, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection with the present report expressing regret that previous responses concerning Mr. Khurram Parvez and the NGO-Centre for Social Development (CSD) had been ignored and that actions by the Government had been incorrectly considered reprisals or intimidation for cooperating with the UN system. The Government underlined its strong commitment to human rights and its active cooperation with the United Nations. It stressed that the preventive detention of Mr. Khurram Parvez was in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedures, that law enforcement agencies had found that Mr. Parvez had instigated and executed violent acts and disturbances in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since July 2016 and noted that a person under investigation should not try to leave the country until its is completed. Regarding the CSD, the Government clarified that it was suspended after being in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010.