Significance of SC judgment to extra-judicial killings in Manipur
- Imphal Times Editorial :: April 20 2017 -

Finally the victims of extra-judicial murder cases at various counter insurgency operation here in the state of Manipur in the last three decades is somehow relieved with the verdict of the Supreme Court announced yesterday.

In laymen interpretation, the verdict also showed that a war was on to the people of the state for over three decades.

Army was deployed not to safeguard the people of the state from external aggression but rather to exterminate those who were against the Indian rule.

This was what the highest court said indirectly by pointing out the prosecution of 1971 war criminals for committing atrocities to the people of neighbouring country Bangladesh.

By ordering a fresh probe in three cases of rape and murder which took place in 2003 by an independent team to find out the truth, indeed is a warning to the armed forces to let them reminded that the power entrusted to them is not for killing or torturing civilians and if committed such crime they cannot escape from the law of the land.

The SC verdict was announced after hearing a PIL filed by the Extra Judicial Execution Victims Families Association.

The association is a registered body of wives and mothers of those persons whom they claim to have been extra-judicially executed by Police, Army and the Assam Riffles.

In the petition, the court was pleaded to deliver justice for extra-judicial murder of 1528 cases by the armed forces.

Now what is important to note is that those armed security forces are surely going to be in trouble. And families of the victims of the extra judicial killing might have relieved as justice is finally delivered.

It is everybody’s knowledge that such a mass alleged extra judicial killing are committed by the armed forces under certain legislation at which we the common people often called as “draconian laws”, such as the AFSPA, POTA etc . etc.

Without any such legislation there is no way that any armed forces can commit excess to any of its own citizen except in case of war with other country.

Before coming to the point on who make these legislations empowering the army to commit excess, it is worth remembering that - the good exist because there is a ‘bad’.

Forget about a multi ethnic country like ours, even in a small society like ours mindset of each individual are not same.

Some a harsh and barbaric, some are peace lovers some are crazy about power and some are simply yes men.

It’s human nature that the one who are empowered with excess powers will not be always humane when rendering his duty.

And if there are legislations that empowered them to commit excess there is no guarantee that those who are empowered to commit excess particularly the armed forces will not commit excess beyond humanism.

Draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Act which empower security forces to commit excess are frame and passed by either legislators or the Parliamentarian.

The SC verdict need to be appreciated by all but should at least find a way to warn the parliamentarian on why they make laws that will force them to commit some days.

Because there is no one who does the good all the time accepts God.