Cops made scapegoats : JAC
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 09 2009: Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the killing of Ch Sanjit has charged Chief Minister O Ibobi of rendering some policemen to scapegoats while trying to shield a single police officer.

A statement issued by the JAC has blamed the Chief Minister of thrusting down the jeweled state-known with epithets like 'land of jewels,' and 'Paradise on earth,' - to a ravine.

The JAC statement observed that the turmoil in the state has been responsible for two factors-law and order and socio-economic problems.

The blame goes to the CM because he holds two key-posts, home and finance.

Curfew or no curfew, road blockade continues at Khurai areas

As a home minister, Ibobi empowers security forces with greater power and recommends the personnel for gallantry awards in the name of counter-insurgency.

Though he is responsible for the killing of several innocents for the sake of his chief minister seat by playing a puppet role for the Centre, he is, on the other hand, a close ally of the militants and is also responsible for raising them.

The fact can be substantiated from the donation he made to militant outfits which was revealed by the Army through media.

Even the CM pretends to be broadminded enough in inviting the militants to eschew violence and let their guns down with his sugar-coated lip, the killing incident of Sanjit has clearly indicated that he is posing an open challenge to the people, the statement contended.

Because, as a Home Minister, he ought to know on whose order Sanjit was killed by the police commandos.

The statement further asserted that the suspension of six commandos and SI Punshiba will not hold water.

It asked whether SI Punshiba has been sanctioned the liberty to do whatever his like at Khwairamband Bazar.

The JAC statement questioned why the superior police officers of Punshiba including the DGP, ADGP, IGP, DIG, SP, ASP, SDPO, and OC of City Police are let off.

The statement also quoted witnesses as having heard the voice of an Additional SP as saying 'Were you not killing still?' to the commandos.

The people have to take that the Khwairamband incident of July 23 was staged by the CM in collaboration with the Additional SP in order to facilitate the re-imposition of AFSPA in Imphal Municipal area.

This is like an open secret to the people.

This has worsened the law and order situation.

On the socio-economic front, the statement digs that in spite of solving the unemployment problem in the state, Ibobi has deducted 15 percent of the huge amount sanctioned by the Centre for around seven years now.

The people are very much aware of his treasured assets.

It also contended that the moral of the police department has been degrading due to the corrupt practices of the CM, who also holds the Finance and Home portfolios in recruiting police personnel.

It further observed that if the present socio-economic trend continues to go on unabated, Manipur is bound to be a state of lawlessness.

It further reasoned that Chief Minister O Ibobi should resign on moral ground from his post in the interest of the people.