Double, double toil the trouble : Erendro’s arrest is not a wise decision
- Imphal Times Editorial :: May 30 2018 -

There was hectic debate among the journalists of the state on whether to publish press statement of organisations announcing bandh or blockade.

The debate over whether or not to publish press statement which content calling of bandh or blockade began last four five years after mushrooming organisations in the state started releasing press statement of calling bandh or general strike for demands which are sometimes for the interest of some clique of persons but which disturbed majority of the people.

The debate continues till today and many a times the journalist fraternity particularly the editors of media houses faced life threats for not publishing bandh called if it happened to be from armed underground groups.

An interim decision made by the journalists fraternity over the issue of whether or not bandh called be published was that if such announcement is made either by the UGs or the CSOs it’s our right to inform the public that some group A, B or C etc. had called bandh or general strike on this or that day as per the present situation of the state. In a conflict torn region like Manipur where there exist a tendency to spark any form of violence between various group of community , we being the messenger need to inform such called to prevent crisis or misunderstandings.

After all people of the state had witness certain such thing due to immediate bandh called which created lots of inconveniences to the general public.

When media houses published news items which called bandh or general strike in the state, it definitely does not meant that those in the media are supporting the bandh or general strike. But it is rather for the safety of the general public.

To make the people taking up more preventive measures from causing harm while in case they have to travel out of necessities.

Well a video threatening to kill Manipuri people make by some group of people started spreading through social networking site whatsapp. The video finally spreads at other social networking site ‘Facebook’.

Coincidentally the video (which called themselves Biharis) started spreading in the aftermath of high tension between Biharis of Telipati area and some Meitei people over the issue of Khurai Ahongpung ritual site in Imphal East district.

The hate video was started sharing by many people who are in facebook and the intention of almost all those sharing the video was mostly condemnation of such barbaric act. Some question about the delay in arresting those who are featuring in the video while sharing the video.

Knowing the potential of spreading enmity between two communities, the police soon acted by arresting 6 people which they claimed to have been those spreading the video.

Another politician Erendro Leichomba who had also shared the video asking the state authority on why it takes days to arrest those when it took just 24 hour who threatened to kill the son of the chief minister.

Except for one person, who masked his face with a piece of clothes, all the other 5 person seen in the video, can be easily recognised.

The background setting at which the criminals shot the video can be also a big clue for those in the police department to find out the location.

The video carries strong message which could give opportunity of criminals at other states of the region to commit any form of crime against our brothers and sisters who are residing at other parts of the country. (Police still fails to reveal on whether those arrested includes any person seen on the hate video)

Watching the video can also be good information for all those Manipur staying outside the state as they will take more precautionary measures while staying at the place far from home.

Even among the good Biharis who have been friends of the Manipuris for quite a long time, the video could be helpful in controlling any spread of violence.

Now, it is again the wisdom of the present government headed by N. Biren Singh. He was the son of the soil and has every knowledge about the courage of young bloods of the state.

He knows Meiteis of the Manipur never put their anger to any specific community for any reason but the blame was over the failure of the authority in acting on time.

It is better that the present govt. remember how the privilege committee of the last state assembly remained helpless in considering on what action shall be taken up against Human Rights Activist Babloo Loitongbam after he refused to tender apology over his statement given to a local TV at which he criticised the timidity of the elected MLAs of that time.

The final decision taken by the privilege committee was “ignore it for some times”. The issue ended there.

Erondro, arrest and detention is not a sign of mature and wise governance. His staying in Sajiwa jail may become another hot issue as he is no fool and may utilised every means to expose what is really happening in the jail.

This was a lesson learnt from the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. He had exposed series of irregularities of Sajiwa Jail when he was arrested along with late Pabung Iboyaima in charge of seditios remark to the then government when he was the editor of a reputed local daily paper. After all the son of the CM is also in the same prison .