Ex-DGP's parting shot: Repeal AFSPA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2013 : Retired DGP MK Das has categorically stated that myriad inconve-niences and troubles faced by public can be significantly re-duced if there is no Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

A for the army, they should be used against only external aggression, he asserted.

Talking to media persons today at police headquarters on his retirement after serving as DGP of Manipur for three months, MK Das, on being asked if there was any possibility of re-imposing AFSPA in Imphal Municipal area in the wake of the recent series of bomb blast, stated that his perception is different from the Supreme Court's observation which upheld AFSPA from the legal perspective.

Bomb blasts which took place within the denotified area made a good case for re-imposition of AFSPA, he re- marked.

In case there was no AFSPA, troubles and inconveniences faced by public which came in different forms and shapes would have been much lesser.

Army should not be used in internal (security) matters.

Army should be deployed only when there is external aggression.

Retiring DGP MK Das speaks

"But unfortunately this is not the scenario", said the retired DGP.

MK Das who was serving as police officer at different capacities for 37 years said that police should act promp-tly whenever there is any complaint from public.

People's faith in police would grow certainly if they can deliver justice.

Obviously good police men deserve appreciation as well as rewards and they get it.

At the same time, authorities need to take up prompt actions when rogue police men who defy rules and regulations.

MK Das said that some rogue police men were dismissed from service during his brief stint as DGP of Manipur.

Although sincere efforts were made to speed up police investigation, expert opinions said that there was infrastructure shortage at Forensic De- partment.

Again, the Director Prosecution could not go through charge sheets submitted by IOs in time due to shortage of staff.

Nonetheless, police investigation has achieved certain progress after some 20/30 police officers were assigned the task of going through charge sheets.

On being asked if he was put under any sort of pressure during his time as DGP of Manipur, the retired DGP maintained that he successfully convinced all concerned and felt no pressure.

Even though police men are like any other man, people view them differently once they wear their uniforms.

But this is a misplaced notion.

People need to accept that police men are like any other men.

All police stations would have sign boards embossed with the slogan "We live to serve our country and countrymen" written in English and Meitei Mayek once the ongoing renovation work of PHQ is completed.

"Some people suggested that the Sangai festival should be held some distance away from Imphal city, preferably at Khuman Lampak and I duly conveyed the same suggestion to authorities concerned", MK Das.

Debates and analysis about the negative and positive aspects of police deserves appreciation, he said.

He further stated that he had initiated necessary measures to restore telephone connection to all police stations where telephone lines were not working.