Iskcon attackers under police glare, says DGP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 19: Apart from highlighting successes of State police forces in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation and maintenance of law and order in the last three years, Director General of Police AK Parashar has claimed of narrowing down on identity of those involved in the terror attack at the temple complex of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

making the revelation during a 'police-media' interaction session at the banquet hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles today, the State police chief contended probe on the ISKCON blast case had unearthed vital clues including narrowing down on identities of culprits involved in the gruesome strike.

While declining to name the group(s) or individuals behind the attack, Parashar said, "Culprits are culprits" and maintained that it would be premature to bring out details of the perpetrators at this juncture as it might hamper further investigations.

The bomb attack at on August 16, 2006 evening amid large gathering of devotees to celebrate Janmasthami had killed six people besides injuring over 50.

AK Parashar (L), ADGP Sahid Ahmed (C) and IGP Samananda

It may be mentioned that the society's international director Swami Damodara was wounded in the same attack and later succumbed at a Kolkata hospital on October 3.On the recent arrest of three Manipuri Muslims in the national capital claimed by Delhi police as activists of Pakistan-based Lasker-e-Taiba, Parashar informed that State police have received certain vital information on the case rom their Delhi counterparts and are on the alert to swing into action anytime.

Chief minister O Ibobi Singh had recently maintained that intelligence agencies of both the centre and state are closely monitoring to authenticate whether LeT has links with Muslim rebels operating in the state.

Commenting on security measures for the ensuing 9th state assembly elections, Parashar said police department had already chalked out elaborate security arrangements to ensure that the polls are conducted in a smooth manner.

Additional DGP Shahid Ahamed has been entrusted with the security aspect of the polls, the police chief said adding that a thorough security analysis has been done on sensitive and hypersensitive areas ahead of the polls slated for February 8, 14 and 23.Consequently numerous mobile security teams have fanned out in certain strategic areas and intense frisking and checking exercise are also being conducted.

For the democratic exercise central para-military forces would man all the 2050 polling stations spread across the state while the state police would undertake mobile tasks among others.

The police are also on the alert to check possible infiltration of ULFA cadres into Manipur territory in view of the Army's ongoing operation in the jungles of Assam.

Regarding frequent complaints on lack of manpower in the police department, the DGP regretted that it was only during the last two to three years that recruitment of state forces was conducted after a long lull and confided that such man-power shortage is a factor hampering certain investigation process.

Pointing out achievements of State police force during the past three years, he said in 2004 the police alone accounted for arrest 417 underground cadres, that rose to 643 in 2005 before the number declined to 429 last year while para-military and other security forces assisted in maintaining law and order with the capture of 270 cadres in 2004, 367 in 2005 and 450 in 2006.number of UG activists slain by the police stood at 38 in 2004, 59 in 2005 and 64 in 2006 compared to other security forces gunning down 70 cadres in 2004, 53 in 2005 and 65 in 2006, he said adding that a total number of 35 UG cadres had also surrendered in the last three years out of whom nine deserted after or during rehabilitation process.

Casualties among the uniformed personnel in separate encounters during the said period totalled 104 apart from injuries sustained by a little over 200 personnel, he said.

Parashar also disclosed that Police department has procured modern equipments like weapons, communication gadgets, and vehicles among others through funds of relevant Central Ministry. The national highway protection scheme have also been taken up by the police through setting up of stations at strategic locations along the routes.

Stating that discipline in the police organisation is of paramount importance, the DGP spelt out that one JCO, 11 riflemen, two constables were arrested for criminal offences and FIR cases have been registered against them while 14 commandos including one JCO, four havildars and seven rifleman are also pulled up for appropriate disciplinary action.

Records were also provided to the mediapersons regarding cases of arms and ammunition lost by the security agencies, civilians falling prey to UG elements, seizures of narcotics substances, theft and burglary, rape and kidnapping/abduction that touched a high of 6328 in the three year.

Significantly the State had been free from criminal cases like custodial rape, dowry deaths and importation of girls in the same period, as per police record.