Licipriya Kangujam, a ‘climate activist’ from Manipur whose father Kangujam Karnajit Singh, alias KK Singh, was nabbed on charges of fraud, assault and criminal breach of trust, has been untraceable since her father’s arrest. The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has revealed that despite several efforts, the address of the child could not be found.
Besides, former member Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights Keisam Pradipkumar, on whose complaint the DCPCR initiated the process for the care of the child, has made no response to its request to provide the present residential address of the child along with a contact number.
Also Read: Who is ‘conman’ Kangujam Kanarjit Singh and what are his crimes?
KK Singh was arrested in New Delhi by Delhi Police Special Cell and Manipur police on May 30, 2021, in a joint operation. After his arrest, many voiced their concerns for his globally-acclaimed activist daughter, who won accolades for her “noble humanitarian initiative” when India was battling the onslaught of the second wave of COVID-19.
Joining the chorus, Keisam Pradipkumar also shot off a letter to the DCPCR on July 7, drawing its attention “to stop media trial and exposure of a minor girl’s Identity and give counselling service to the child”.
In his letter to the DCPCR, Keisam Pradipkumar raised concerns about many media reports carrying the girl child’s photo and name. He alleged that these reports defamed her as the “front of her father, questioning the legitimacy of her climate change activisms, even challenged the genuineness of awards she has received, without the slightest care of Right to Confidentiality and Privacy of a Child and other legal protections provided by Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) 2015.”
Stating that he has nothing to say either in favour or against her and her activism, Pradipkumar wrote that if she is found to have been manipulated by her father, then she is a child in need of care and protection (CNCP), if she is found to have committed any offence then she must be treated as a CCL under 11 Act.
“However, it is so unfortunate that media houses are publishing the name of the minor girl, doing public scrutiny of her personal life and activities, on the sidelines of crime reports allegedly committed and being planned by her father, I believe this is not ethical and fair but truly against the provisions provided by the Constitution of India, JJ Act, Press Council of India’s Guidelines etc.”
He urged DCPCR to ensure that the child is not traumatized online further by way of unwanted disclosure of identity, prevent the media trial subjected to her, and please reach out to the child and provide her proper Child Counseling service and other legal assistance if required.
Acting on his complaint, DCPCR took up the process for the care of the child. District Child Protection Unit-South (DCPU-S) and SHO of Safdarjung Enclave Police Station reported that the address of the child could not be found despite several efforts.
“Considering facts and circumstances of the case, as there is no phone number and the address could not be found, the case could not be followed up,” noted the order dated July 30, 2021.
The communications from DCPCR suggest that Keisam Pradipkumar is neither following up on the matter nor responding to its emails after he shot off the letter to the DCPCR. The latest email from DCPCR to Pradipkumar reads, “The undersigned is directed again to advise you to provide the present residential address of the child along with a contact number within 15 days on or before 11.01.2022 so that further enquiry and action for the care and protection of the child could be undertaken.”
“If no reply(address and contact number of the child) received by the Commission, the case would be closed at the level of DCPCR,” it added.
The Manipur Police is presently investigating frauds committed by KK Singh. He was booked under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
According to a reports, many activists and students who have been duped by Karnajit feel that he was using his daughter.
“We sincerely request the Ministry of External Affairs in sync with concerned bodies to also ensure that the young girl is not being exploited by her own father for his own vested interests and for his own career,” a letter written by an Indian National Youth awardee Madhish Parikh along with other youth activists in March 2020 said.
Sasidharan Nair, a senior citizen on a comment to Republic TV news thread, regarding KK’s arrest said, “At nine, what does she know about climate? A third standard student should be studying and playing as a toddler. The parent should be booked for abusing her childhood for fame and money and the NGOs supporting them also should be charged for clandestine works and violating the protection of children’s acts. They must be hardcore fraudsters living on their daughter.”
It was alleged the Ketto crowdfunding drive is orchestrated by KK Singh using his daughter and climate change activist as a front for his nefarious plan. Kangujam Karnajit is allegedly capitalizing on the fame of his daughter, who made an appeal for donations for Oxygen concentrators to her foreign friends for India on April 21 as updated on her Facebook page.
The crowdfunding drive through Ketto had collected around Rs 75 lakh and it was reported in Ichel Express that a volunteer had tried to collect money from hiring out concentrators which were supposedly given free of cost.
Also read: Why are the Meiteis in Manipur demanding ST status?