Ludicrous Police Modernization
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: Ocotber 28, 2014 -
Every sensible person may want to raise a question to the State Home Department as to why the 'elite' police commandos are equipped with the sophisticated MP5-A3 sub-machine guns and other latest series of Kalashnikovs.
The response will be quite obvious – 'done' as part of the police modernization programme.
The commandos are given the 'elite' tag after undergoing rigorous trainings and making them capable of carrying out tough operations flawlessly.
However, the role of Manipur Police Commandos and their modernization programme seem to be quite farcical.
During the festive days of Diwali and Ningol Chakkouba in the valley region of the State, those police commandos were quite busy in one task, something very lucrative.
They were quite hectic moving from one place to another in their official vehicles with all their 'modernized' weapons to collect money from the gambling spots (what people call as 'Lagao Khaopham').
Instead of busting the gamblers, those law-enforcers openly encouraged gambling in the State.
They have almost forgotten that gambling is a punishable act in the State.
The police modernization programme might have provided the right equipments and infrastructures to the state forces, but their efficiency is beyond expectation of the public.
One more serious matter regarding the state security personnel is their discipline.
They seem to have forgotten that they are in the public service to protect the people and not to threaten them.
The repeated exclamation of State Home Minister to make Manipur Police people-friendly still remains as a 'dream'.
Moreover, frequent occurrence of bomb blasts and armed attacks right under the nose of security personnel clearly shows the loopholes in the security setup of the State.
Manipur is one of the few states of India which have highest number of police personnel per lakh population, and also it has high density of police personnel.
Even if the insurgency movement has waned and there is not much activity of the rebel outfits of late, the effectiveness of the security personnel is still very deplorable.
The lives and properties of the public cannot be secured fully by these security personnel. Every now and then bomb blasts and armed attacks are happening in different parts of the State.
This also indicates the failure of the intelligence units of the security forces. In fact, people are really worried about their security in the State.
It was very ridiculous of the Chief Minister of Manipur to say that the CCTV cameras in Imphal area would be made fully functional soon.
His remark came just after the MG Avenue blast that claimed the life of one police commando and injured more than 20 civilians.
Those CCTV cameras were installed at key locations in Imphal area long time back, but the Government seemed to have undertaken the project not for surveillance.
Probably, it was taken up just for the sake of some supply or contract work. All these while, the CCTV cameras have been lying only as showpieces in the heart of Imphal City.
The police personnel deployed even in high security zones seem to lack alertness. Instead of being vigilant, they are glued to their mobile phones either talking or texting while on duty.
So, it will be proper on the part of the State Home Department to start monitoring the activities of the police personnel, besides putting huge amount of money in their modernization programme.
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