Deliberated at high levels : Beyond the discussion time
- Sangai Express Editorial :: April 11, 2013 -

All fake encounters. This is the observation that the Supreme Court appointed Inquiry Commission has submitted and the Centre has responded by stating that the matter is being deliberated at high levels including the Union Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry.

Not bad going, especially for a place like Manipur, where all allegations of fake encounters had failed to move Imphal and Delhi. Human rights violation.

A familiar term with the public and view this against the continued imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and it would not be hard to understand why human rights has managed to strike a chord with the people.

One thousand, five hundred and twenty eight is the figure totted up by the Extra-Judicial Execution Victims' Association, Manipur and this is staggering.

Over 15 hundred people done to death under questionable circumstances over a period of three decades or so and clearly human life can be a cheap commodity in a place like Manipur.

The figure is disturbing and so is the observation of the three men Inquiry Commission. Six out of six and this is more than a cent percent score.

Four weeks is the time sought by the Centre to submit its reply before the Supreme Court and while it remains to be seen what Delhi will come up with, it is important to keep in mind that the submission of the Commission came on the heels of the Supreme Court tongue lashing the State Government with 'How can a 14 year old boy be a terrorist ?' 'Is there a war going on out there ?' 'Do something, people are dying there.'

How much this verbal diatribe will impact on the Centre is something to be seen but a significant observation has been made.

Being discussed at high levels, is the submission from the Centre, but the time is now beyond the 'discussion' stage.

An important point which Delhi should not overlook, if it is sincere in ensuring that the lives of the common people here are not put at the wrong end of the guns wielded by its security forces.

Militarising the place in a state of undeclared war. Best manifested by the continued imposition of an Army Act amongst the civil population. This is what has been the case in the North East and in Manipur in particular. Not that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has succeeded in neutralising the armed movement in the region.

Counter-Insurgency Operations cannot be only about eliminating armed outfits. It also calls for winning the trust and confidence of the public, the people.

And fake encounters accompanied by the usual, familiar line, 'Troops saw some suspicious movement. Signalled them to stop but were fired upon.

Two/three militants killed in retaliatory firing and one 9 mm pistol with 4 live rounds and five spent cartridges found' can only run contrary to the idea of winning the public over.

When this line or style of explanation will change is something that is still in the realm of speculation but it is time that something drastic is done to change this.

As long as official statements from the police, the Army and the Assam Rifles continue to stick to such lines of explanation, the stench of 'fake encounters' and the sense of immunity and impunity granted to the security personnel will continue to hang heavy in the air.

That this fact has not registered in the minds of the people who matter says its own significant story. The Supreme Court has already made the position of the Inquiry Commission clear.

It however remains to be seen whether Delhi and Imphal will reciprocate similarly and accord the respect and dignity to the observation made by the Commission. All the more reason for everyone to be vigilant, especially given that the Centre has sought four more weeks to submit its reply. Four more weeks to prepare or buy time.

Let the apex Court decide that when the time comes.