Untrained commandos to be kept at bay
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 13, 2013:
In no uncertain term, Director General of Police (DGP) Mirnal Kanti Das (MK Das) has made it clear to the top police officers of the State Police Department that Manipur Police Commandos are to be used strictly for the purpose of counter insurgency operations and the force has not been instituted to lathi-charge on Meira Paibis.
The DGP has further instructed the police officers to make the Commandos an able force which could perform their duty with dedication and sincerity as it is a force that has been set up not for checking the documents of vehicles like traffic police or other civil police, the mobile phones of the private individuals and for the escort coverage of VIPs.
According to a highly placed source, all these instructions were spelled out by the DGP during a meeting with police officers upto the rank of SPs recently.
The DGP directed the police officers to find out whether all the Commandos personnel in Manipur who are seen around moving with sophisticated and deadly weapons have actually undergone the required training to become a commando.
Consequently, the DGP has set up a three-member departmental committee comprising DIG (range IV) Dr Soibam Ibomcha as Chairman, Deputy Superintendent of Police Th Krishnatombi, who has served as a Commando for many years and a Commandant of Manipur Rifles, for investigation to find out all those Commandos who have not undergone the required training.
The 3-member departmental committee is supposed to identify Commando personnel who are above 35 years of age, those who have not done the required training as well as those who lack integrity within a month's time and submit its report to the DGP, the source disclosed.
The source said that even though 60-year old MK Das would be holding the post of DGP for only three months, but since the day of assuming the charge, he has come up with many measures one after the other with an eye on improving the relationship between the police and the public through enhancement of the functioning of Police Department and its personnel.
Apart from moving around in their vehicles and trying to force their way through the busy roads, earlier it was a rare sight to see IRB and MR personnel walking on the roads.
But today, they would be seen deployed and detailed for foot patrolling.
Even at night time, one could see deployment of police personnel at every nook and corner of the twin district capital Imphal.
Moreover, no personnel could be seen in uniform when one enters the complex of Manipur Rifles earlier.
But today uniformed personnel are seen everywhere even in the battalion.
At one time, it was also a tradition for COs concerned and other higher police officers to grant out-passes to any personnel approaching for the same and sharing the benefits.
But after the new DGP has come, the out-pass system has been done away with, the source said, adding that now the Cos concerned have also been asked to submit daily report detailing the number of personnel under their respective command, where they are being deployed or detailed for which work.