CrPC Section 144, policing and militarization
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 05, 2014 -

Indeed, the State Government has rung out a very clear message. Don't mess around.

Cease fire pact between New Delhi and NSCN-IM is not effective within the territory of Manipur.

Only the State's writ, and no diktats of any agency, armed or unarmed, should run within its territory.

These were some of the clear messages sent across by the State Government when it raided a regional office of NSCN-IM at Ukhrul town and arrested eight cadres of the outfit along with arms and ammunition in the aftermath of the assassination of Ukhrul Autonomous District Council Member Ngalangzar Malue.

Together with the ground breaking raid, the State Government promulgated Section 144 of CrPC in Ukhrul town.

The prohibition order was consolidated with the deployment of a sizeable number of police commandos and IRB personnel.

The Government of Manipur left no room for doubt when it declared that neither the arrested cadres nor the arms and ammunition seized from their possession would be handed over to the Cease Fire Monitoring Group (CFMG) of the Government of India unlike the case of 2004 where 13 NSCN-IM leaders arrested by Manipur Police from Kangpokpi were released at the intervention of the then Union Home Minister LK Advani.

This time, the Government of India instead of making any strategic intervention, made it clear that it has no intention to intervene when the CFMG Chairman Lt Gen (retd) NK Singh categorically announced through media that the cease fire with NSCN-IM does not extend beyond the State of Nagaland.

This stance of the Government of India perfectly complements the State Government's position as far as the controversial cease fire and its ambit are concerned.

These diametrically opposite interpretations of the cease fire pact have direct bearing on the people of Manipur, particular Naga community in the wake of the assassination of Ngalangzar Malue and subsequent deployment of additional security forces in Ukhrul town.

Whereas the State Government has been trying to justify deployment of additional security forces in the name of thwarting off possible disruptive activities and maintaining law and order, many Ukhrul based civil society organisations as well as the United Naga Council have been making all the hue and cry against what they term as militarization and keeping Ukhrul town under siege.

The incompatibility between the State Government and its own citizens is rooted in the divergent interpretation and understanding of militarization and policing.

For the State as indicated by their jargon, it is about policing. The counter argument as demonstrated by the civil society organisations through demonstrations and press statement, says that the State Government's strategic move is militarization of civil space.

If it is really about policing, promulgation of Section 144 of CrPC for such a long period without any interruption is excessive, to say the least.

Remember, Section 144 of CrPC was promulgated at Ukhrul town since July 13.

We don't think policing or maintenance of law and order should be at the cost of curtailing people's freedom of movement and fundamental rights.

The longer the prohibitory orders are clamped, nearer would go the meaning of policing to militarization at least in the context of the uneasy calm prevailing in Ukhrul town.

The Government should not commit the blunder of alienating its own people in its battle against NSCN-IM or any armed opposition groups.

Being a democratically elected Government, it is the responsibility of the State to protect its citizens and all their rights.

But promulgation of CrPC Section 144 for weeks uninterrupted cannot be interpreted, from any logical perspective, as a strategy to protect human rights.