By JAC Rabina & JAC Sanjit
The present deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur is the sole responsibilities of the ruling Progressive Front Government. The situation has become bad to worse.
India is recognised by the world as biggest democratic country, with a population of more than one billion. We are proud to be a citizen of the biggest democratic country, led by a party with an experience of more than 100 years of existence, THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS.
Why India adopted the democratic form, because it is the Government of the people, by the people and for the people. But the question is, does the present SPF Government in Manipur rules in a democratic way. Why the SPF Government of Shri O Ibobi, the honourable Chief Minister, put a question mark, regarding the celebrity of the oldest political party in India.
The July 23, 2009, Khwairamband Bazaar fake encounter incident has brought Manipur to a boil. The fake encounter killing is not a new incident in Manipur. On that day, Sanjit, the victim, was standing at a PCO when within minutes he was surrounded by Police Commandos. There were five civilians injured and one woman (Rabina) dead on the road. The cops needed an alibi. On that busy road, in the middle of the crowded market, in full public view, Sanjit was dragged into a pharmacy next door and shot point blank.
All of this passed for a routine day in Manipur. The area was not cordoned off, no forensic were called in. The State Assembly was in session when the incident happened. By late afternoon, Chief Minister had tabled a statement saying Sanjit, a militant outfit, has shot five civilians while trying to escape a police frisking but Manipur's brave police commandos had killed him in an encounter. A 9MM Mauser was found on him. The Chief Minister also said there was no other way to stem the menace of insurgents except to “Eliminate†them (a statement he later denied).
It is estimated that nearly 300 people have been killed in 2009 alone. But nobody dares to raise any question. People suspect things, but in the absence of proof, they took away. Each time someone dies, the neighbourhoods constitute a Joint Action Committee (JAC). Token protests are made, sometimes by compensation, and everyone tries to live on. The same would have happened this time around, except and anonymous photographer captured the damning extrajudicial killing of Sanjit on camera. Terrified of publishing the pictures in local papers, the photographer contacted Tehelka, a national magazine and published the photographs. Finally, on August 5, 2009, a full week after the story first broke, Chief Minister called a press conference, admitted he had been misguided into making a false statement about the 'unfortunate incident'. In this area of concerned, people demand his resignation on moral ground.
If Chief Minister is a responsible administrator the problem might have been solved earlier. Instead of hearing the people's outcry for justice, he adopted the wait and watch policy. It is fact evidence that 'wait and watch policy' has never solved any problems but only has it created new ones. There are certain hostile elements within the Government which acts against the people's movement for justice. They compromised on Chief Minister's confidence upon them and ill advised him against the sentiment of the people, for their own personal benefits. They are none other than the Works Minister and Sports Minister. It is very much necessary to drop them as the Cabinet Minister, for smooth functioning of the Government.
The present situation in Manipur is the outcome of mishandling key department like home and is responsible for the present non-cooperation movement by the civil societies against the Government. The present crime of fake encounter killing of Sanjit and Rabina by Manipur Police Commandos is the responsibilities of Home Department headed by the State Chief Minister, is the real perpetrator of the present crime. The State home department is the power centre of the SPF Government. The home department is only in namesake. There is total failure of security doctrine.
The State security forces specially the Police Commandos, act like, and they are above the law. They can do anything, in their own will. This is a known fact that many innocent civilians have been killed for money and gallantry awards. There is ill practice in recruitment process of Manipur Police, Manipur Rifles, Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and related civil post. There is no rotation system in transfer and posting of security personnel in the State home department. Persons who have a close relation with Chief Minister and higher officials are being posted in the proper area of Imphal West and East only. Due to these there is no discipline, moral and good policing in police department. Thus, the personnel become a law breaker, earn huge amount of money by the power of the police uniforms. So, there is no meaning of politeness, obedient, liberty, Intelligent, Courtesy and efficiency, the “police†stand for. Therefore, Manipur needs an able honest person to be the new home Minister, to solve the present crisis.
May we analyse and remind you of the last eight years rule of SPF Government under the honourable Chief Minister. The total administrative system is a failure, the level of corruption is very high, extra judicial killing, a regular practice, law and order in a dismal state, the moral of the security forces is all time low, Bandh-blockade-Dharna, imposition of curfew is compulsory and no meaning of all other civil departments under SPF Government also in the same status like the home department. There is no any developmental works, schemes for educated unemployed youth, no initiative to establish factory and industry to provide self employment for all, no improvement in communication, no proper health care system, no proper electricity, drinking water is not available in regular basis, crime against women and child increased, fake encounter become a routine affair, there is irregularity in the payment of salary of its employee, fake appointment case become an issue and the corruption becomes a culture like situation from Chief Minister down to sweeper.
In these areas of concern, we appeal to the Central leaders to safeguard the lives of innocent civilians. The role of the Central Government is very much important. The people of Manipur as civilized democratic citizens protest to punish the guilty Police personnel. By locking horns and creating conflict situation with civil organisations including Manipur Human Rights Commission, press/media, legislatures and students body will bear no fruit at all.
In the name of tackling counter insurgency movement, the Government officials divert all the funds being provided by the Centre as a special package for development works, for their own personnel interest. We have actually applauded the Centre for supporting Manipur for our own economic development. But, our bitter experience upon the last many years has been that the money gets poured in from Centre into our State, and a colossally high percentage of it is actually spent, not on the purposes that Delhi intends to.
In this area, there is a question mark, the role of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee. Why they keep mum, regarding the seriousness of the issue? These instances show lack of transparency on the part of the Government and a deliberate play to sabotage people's movement for justice. It is very much necessary for the Centre to draw alternative ways to consolidate the movement for bringing justice to the two departed soul whose nature of death testifies extreme brutality and barbarism of the highest kind.
In this hour of crises, we are aware of the responses and support from the Central leader, especially from Congress party high command. It is necessary to look into the matter of Shri O Ibobi to continue as the Chief Minister. The people of Manipur want either imposition of President's rule or a new dynamic leader from any community, there is no question of Caste, Creed and religion, to be the new Chief Minister.
This article was published on The Sangai Express.