Strong Arm Tactics
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: 14th May, 2008 -

The repeated threats issued to the Editor and staff of Naharolgi Thoudang as well as the yanking off the news channel of ISTV for some hours on May 13, reflect the trend that has become synonymous with the Manipur of today.

Threats, intimidations, diktats, boycott etc, etc have become the calling card for quite a large number of people, organi-sations, student bodies, State agencies as well as non-State actors.

While people continue to view the State security agencies, especially its crack police commandos with suspicion and disdain, the people on the other hand have had to live under constant threats and diktats issued by sundry organisations.

In fact so deeply embedded is this culture, that today we see even student organisations summoning someone or the other to come to their office or else face the consequences.

What does it all say ?

In the first place, the common people of Manipur have been taken for granted for too long by all the numerous power players in the State.

What has made matter all that more galling is the fact that in all instances the nonsense that are imposed on the people is in 'public interest.'

In fact so convenient has the term 'public interest' become that it is not uncommon to see sundry JACs or organisations imposing a bandh or a blockade under the pretext of public interest.

With the law and order situation in an uncertain state, it has become all that more easier to use threats and muscle as well as gun power to push through one's agenda and the outpouring of the public's angst against the monetary demands served on them is reflective of the tolerance of the people being stretched to the limit.

Such a culture or a trend can flourish only when the Government of the day is seen to have abdicated its duty of providing security to the people.

On the other hand, it has also become clearer with each passing year that some unscrupulous elements within the State security agencies have taken advantage of the situation to pursue their own agenda, with the arms issued to them by the Government.

It is also a well known 'secret' that many elements who have managed to cosy up to the powerful State police commandos flex their muscles and threaten others or even go on an extortion drive. The threat to Naharolgi Thoudang may be seen in this light.

Manipur today is a fertile ground for anti-social elements to flourish as well as for State agencies to exploit the situation to suit their own needs.

In fact the people of Manipur have been brow beaten into submission for such a long time, that independent thinking, healthy debates or discussions etc have become something of a mirage here.

All the so called public discussions, debates etc all come with certain riders and pre-conceived notions and conclusions that they are invariably reduced to a big farce.

To combat this social menace, the people need to raise their voice and say enough is enough.