More like a premeditated assault : The Pallel outrage
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: May 08 2015 -

The figure says it all. One killed, four hurt in firing.

Obviously premeditated.

It was providence that the number of deaths did not cross the single digit mark.

The conditions of those four injured are still not yet clear, but this is no reason to take things easy.

That the incident was premeditated should be clear.

That a group of people engaged in a religious activity were targeted and fired upon should say it all.

Uncharacteristically, the police acted swift and fast and managed to arrest one key suspect and this may go some way in soothing frayed nerves.

However it still remains that the guilt or otherwise of the arrested suspect has to be proved first and this is where the real test of the State Government will lie.

Positive to note that Chief Minister O Ibobi and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam responded swiftly to the mindless killing and came out strongly against the incident just one day later.

This gives all some degree of comfort.

To those who came in late, the incident occurred when a group of people were taking part in the ritual of Lai Lamthokpa of a local sylvan deity at a spot in between Pallel and Aimol villages late in the night of May 5.

The attackers or killers must have obviously been lying in wait, looking for the opportune moment to strike out and cause deaths and mayhem.

As noted earlier, it was sheer providence that not more than one man was killed, but what is the guarantee that such mindless act of violence will not recur in the future ?

Remember the place where the incident took place is inhabited by people of different communities and here the target appeared to be people belonging to one community, professing a different religion.

It is this which should stand condemned by one and all.

The Government seems to have woken up to the sense of outrage and accordingly picked up one suspect.

However the job is far from being done. More than apparent that the attack could not have been carried out by an individual.

There must have been others too with some directly involved in the attack while others may have kept the attackers informed about the different stages of the rites and rituals as well as about the movement of the worshippers.

It is here that the Government needs to be aware of the fact that arresting one suspect will only help in tempering the initial angst and frustration of the people.

Arresting one suspect cannot be equated to cracking the case.

Still not very clear whether the suspect was acting on his own with his accomplices or as part of an organised gang. This again must be worked out.

The cops are doing their job and while pressure must be mounted on the Government to get to the bottom of the matter, it is also important for all to realise that the best thing would be for everyone to maintain harmony.

Makes no sense to sow the seeds of suspicion that may take the hue of communalism.

It was murder and mayhem and no attempt should be tolerated to give it a communal tone.

This is what should be kept in mind by the people.

As for the Government, it should also realise that the sooner the case is cracked the better it would be for everyone and Manipur.