A Fiasco every now & again

Thoudam Imomacha Singh *

Womenfolk staging a rally against the killing of a youth in police firing on May 19 2015 :: Pix - TSE

Since April 30, Manipur has been experiencing a number of unruly incidents, some of which are just like earth shaking tremors. However, the root cause of all these unwelcome episodes may be attributed to the undemocratic actions meted out to the general public by responsible public servants.

In view of the events that have taken place in a period of less than a month, one may be restrained to believe that we are under a democratic system. "Of the people, by the people, for the people" is what Abraham Lincoln said on "Democracy". Quite contrary to this basic principle of democracy, Manipur has been turned into a land of killing fields.

The Gwaltabi incident of April 30 may be attributed to the inapt handling of the situation by the District Administration and the utter callousness on the part of the security structure provided by the State Government.

Very luckily on the part of both the people of the area and the District Administration, all the unwanted elements who had a mind to enjoy a flare-up could have been appropriately checked and normality was restored to the situation.

As we all understood, for a conflict, involving different ethnic groups, it is not at all easy to take it for granted that tension in that particular area is completely defused. There are rumour-mongers and small – time criminals who are always bent on to obstruct social tranquility since they are always ready to infuriate the general public so that their diabolic designs could be implemented.

Such elements are to be nipped in the bud. Campaign for social harmony must be organized in full-swing. It must be a joint venture for both the general public and the District Administration and at the same time the State Government must be prepared to hoodwink the nefarious activities perpetrated by the hoodlums.

On May 10, during late night hours, one police sub-inspector of Manipur Police Department was bashed by the MR jawans who were deployed as the escort of an important political functionary of the state. Ironically both the police sub-inspector and the MR jawans belong to the same department, working under the Director Generalship of Manipur Police.

MR jawans action of assaulting a police sub-inspector in nothing less than insubordination. Imphal is called a city, but it comprises only a small area. Whether the connotation of a city is applicable to Imphal or not is for the respected readers to judge. After 10 or 11 p.m. at night the streets and roads in Imphal are almost empty until and unless there is a religious festival like "Diwali".

What is very unfortunate regarding this episode is that on that fateful hour of the night the VVIP in question was present at the scene of the imbroglio near the Southern Gate of Kangla. We are to analyse the situation rightly when a figurative public leader was present when the stand off occurred it could have been easily subsided well in time. But due to the lack of common sense of the VVIP that the incident had blown out of control.

If the honourable man could not make out his own dignity and responsibility due to lack of common sense or otherwise he must be shown the door by his political superiors. Such a late night incident might be due to an inebriated state of mind also. How can one stand above the law and stoop so low at the same time?

Now after the Gwalpara incident the Imphal-Ukhrul State Highway is under the shadow of an indefinite road-block once again, aftermath the mayhem due to the death of a young schoolboy in the hands of the heavily armed police commandos. The tragic incident occurred after a long escapade.

A group of boys numbering 12 were on a joy-ride. It is said they refused to stop their vehicles when the cops chased them signaling to stop.

The tragic incident occurred on the night of May 17. So far as the news reports published in the local dailies on May 19, it is apparent that the boys were unarmed.

Are our police commandos indeed, licensed to kill anybody, anywhere, anytime as they wish to do so?

IRB jawans, MR jawan, Policmen, Homeguards and VVF personnel are often reported of their involvement in crimes, even murder. The root cause was at the time of their recruitment.

Our law-makers must see that the wrongs are corrected. Accountability, good governance, efficiency and corruption-free attitude may be the clue to solve the current puzzle of crisis.