Imphal, October 14 2009: Taking grim note of police commandos using abusive words and assaulting two media persons recently, the JACs of Rabina and Sanjit opined that the incident reflects mindset of the State forces to target media personnel at any available opportunity as a fallout of the Tehelka news magazine laying bare high-handedness of the police commandos.

Expressing that public humiliation suffered by the police commandos in the aftermath of the July 23 firing at BT Road and subsequent Tehelka expose that further embarrassed the police force there had been a deep rooted conspiracy to target mediapersons, co-convenors of the JACs said such police cruelty was inevitable as police commandos have been ingrained with the concept that they are above the law and immune to any sort of legal punishment.

Further observing that the incident of mediapersons made to endure abuse and physical assault from a handful of commando personnel is a stark reminder to over 25 lakh people of Manipur that no civilian is safe when the commandos are in existence, the JACs also contended that the public losing faith upon commandos can be assumed from the rejection to a Government decision for deployment of IRB and commando personnel in all the hill districts.

contrary to the commando units being formed as a special force in the initial stage under the objection of safeguarding public life and property, reports indicting involvement of police commandos and IRB personnel in looting money from the public, cases of fake encounter that had claimed many innocent persons as well as in impersonating as a activists of UG groups is yet another grim reminder that public safety is a luxury people of manipur cannot afford.

The JAcs also opined that had police commandos and other State forces been a little considerate and more humane in their approach and action there would be hardly any necessity for continued deployment of other Indian security forces in the State.

Existence of only state forces in Manipur would not only mean gradual and certain emancipation of the Manipuris from the impact of AFSPA 1958 but also generation of employment through recruitment of locals, the JAcs cautioned those at the helm of affairs to ensure that police commandos/IRB men mend their conduct before the general public assume them to be the greatest threat to survival of Manipur.

Recounting past incidents of media persons and establishments having encountered brutal side of police commandos, the co-convenors also cautioned representatives of the media fraternity against any hasty decision in settling the latest incident so as to guarantee safety of media personnel.

Rather steadfast resolution that the guilty commando personnel be made accountable for their misdemeanour would the correct stance to imbibe into the minds of the rogue commandos that they too are liable for prosecution under law of the land.