Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 22 2010:
Contending that suspension of five personnel including three officers for the "unwarranted baton charging" and firing tear gas canisters to quell protestors is discriminatory, Thoubal Police Commandos have demanded a review of the suspension order.
The five suspended personnel have been identified as SI N Tiken Singh, ASI Lalminthang Mangthe, ASI L Dhanbir Singh, Havildar in Ist IRB Kh Mossenger and Havildar in 3rd IRB H Manihar Singh.
Both Mossenger and Manihar are attached with Thoubal Police Commandos.
Addressing a press conference convened jointly by all the Police Commando units posted in different parts of Thoubal district at their main complex at Khangabok today, disgruntled police commandos pointed out that the suspension order that has come after the baton charge and firing tear gas canisters to quell the protestors is like the proverbial saying of 'Cheisu Chaba, Lallupsu Kaba'.
There have been numerous past incidents in which protestors were hurt in police action.
So, why the Thoubal District Police Commandos have to be singled out and action taken up in a discriminatory manner only this time ?, they questioned.
Moreover, they went on to point out that Zamir Khan (35) of Sangaiyumpham Part-II Moirang Palli Bazar was arrested as a cadre of NEMF by a combined team of 33 and 15 Assam Rifles along with arms and later handed over to Thoubal Police.
So, the police commandos have no connection with the arrest.
In fact, the protestors from Sangaiyumpham have already started causing destruction to the District Police Headquarters on that fateful night of October 19.Yet the protestors were pacified and directed to go to Thoubal Police Station, where the arrested person had been handed over.
A Quick Reaction Team of the Commandos prevented the protestors who were coming in two buses, mini vans and autorickshaws from advancing towards the police station near Arong Thong.
Before any talks could be held, the protestors started pelting stones at the police commandos and tried to snatch their weapons.
So, the Police Commandos have to disperse them.
Otherwise, the protestors could have stormed the police station.
''We were only doing our duty.
But the suspension order has come like a bolt from the blue discouraging the moral of not only us but of the entire Manipur Police Commandos'', they lamented, while recalling that one of their officers have been beaten to death while another person sustained injuries in a mob attack at Lilong.
The disgruntled police commandos further informed that earlier they were preparing to surrender their respective weapons in protest if this is the kind of treatment they are going to get for performing duty.
But they have controlled themselves from taking such an extreme step.
It is said that there are over 200 Police Commandos in Thoubal district.