Strict instructions from the MHA : A case of sleeping with the enemy ?
- Sangai Express Editorial :: March 11, 2014 -

‘Fictitious UG groups’. UG groups under Suspension of Operations.

Nothing extraordinary here, but when these terms are used by the Ministry of Home Affairs, in connection with the series of assaults ranging from grenade attacks to planting bombs to shooting on monetary demands then it says something out of the ordinary.

The strict instructions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to all Government Departments, contractors, business establishments, doctors, etal to immediately inform the law enforcing agencies or the MHA through the helplines given when they are served extortion notices within one hour, is more than an indication that the Centre has taken a serious note of the rampant extortions taking place in Manipur.

More interesting is the point that the MHA has correctly zeroed in on the people behind these acts.

An interesting and important point may be inferred from the observation of the MHA.

In directly naming the SoO groups, the MHA may be said to have admitted that groups which have entered into some sort of an understanding with the Government and even signed peace pacts have been given a free hand to do as they please under the garb of peace and peace pacts.

As things stand today, all the groups under the SoO pact and other groups which have come forward to sit down and talk with the Government are housed in designated camps under the sharp vigil of the law enforcing agencies.

So where does that leave the law enforcing agencies ?

Did the MHA deliberately stop short of admitting that the acts of commission and omission, read serving extortion notices and mounting attacks, may have had the blessings of some of the law enforcing agencies deployed here ?

‘Fictitious UG groups.’

The MHA has not elaborated on this, but one may infer that the Government was pointing fingers at the numerous armed groups which have sprung up all over the place with no clear cut ideologies.

Gather a few people, come up with some high sounding ‘patriotic’ names, buy some guns, announce their arrival through a statement issued to the media and then start extorting.

There are a dime a dozen of such groups and the media in Manipur have had to bear the brunt of these groups for years, whose fire power may be low but which nonetheless have great nuisance value.

Enemies of the people, they certainly are and in coming out with the strict instructions the MHA has conveyed the message that they know what is actually happening in Manipur.

But the more important point to study is how groups under the SoO pact or some other agreements have been able to serve extortion notices and even launching attacks if their demands are not met.

Sounds like a classic case of the law enforcing agencies sleeping with the enemies.

For the moment the MHA has taken the first step in trying to check the trend of extortion but this should just be the beginning and a thorough examination from the very top of why groups which have come to talk with the Government are in a position to let loose a reign of terror and disturb the lives of the common people.

Consider the points raised here with the merit they deserve, is our suggestion.