Common man’s life : Worthless for unworthy Government
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: May 29 , 2014 -

One humble appeal of the joint action committee constituted against the mysterious disappearance of Irungbam Irabanta of Nongdam Maning Leikai two years back to the State Government is a mere confirmation whether the missing man is still alive or dead but we are doubtful if the Government is paying any attention.

Cross examination of the circumstances under which Irabanta disappeared indicated it was not voluntary disappearance but forced disappearance which is quite close to abduction. Then who is behind the abduction.

Irabanta was a sand supplier to Maphou Dam construction. He was picked up from his rented home of Porompat by one Winner Tangkhul on May 27, 2012 on the pretext of settling certain disputes with NSCN-IM men regarding the contract work of supplying sand.

Seven days before his disappearance, Irabanta went to Ukhrul in connection with building construction of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and there he met some NSCN-IM functionaries as he told his wife.

This brief introduction established that both Winner Tangkhul and I Irabanta had some links with NSCN-IM.

As the concerned JAC and worried relatives were busy searching for clues and trails which could lead them to the whereabouts of JAC came the shocking news that Irabanta was in the custody of NSCN-IM.

Media reports said that this was disclosed by a senior police officer.

This ominous revelation was followed by a series of memorandums, appeals and reminders urging the Government to secure Irabanta’s release. But all went in vain.

Disappearance of a citizen at the hands of an outlawed organisation though under ceasefire pact with the Government of India within the State of Nagaland has some far-reaching politico-legal implications.

It throws up a serious question on the jurisprudence as well as jurisdiction of the State of Manipur.

The Government of Manipur by keeping its hands off the issue of Irabanta unwittingly admitted that NSCN-IM is the de facto authority in some parts of the geo-political entity called Manipur.

Remember the spine chilling triple murder case of Dr Kishan, Token and Rajen.

It was after several rounds of violent, massive and sustained agitation that the main accused Hopeson Ningshen, a senior officer of NSCN-IM was handed over to the Indian authority.

Sadly, the tempo and ripple effects of the rounds of agitation in the case of Irabanta was not strong enough to rattle the conscience of the Government of Manipur.

Over the years, indifference and callousness of the State Government has swollen to a point of no return.

Does the Government need any reminder that protection of lives of citizens and their properties is the first and foremost constitutional duty of every elected Government?

Or is it a case of two parallel Governments governing the people of Manipur?

The Government and its law enforcing machinery are notorious for dragging its feet when it comes to dealing with crimes or delivery of justice, more so in hill districts particularly when it involves armed outfits.

Unleashing autocratic rule in the valley and whining in the hills can never qualify as a responsible and competent Government.

Seen from the humanitarian perspective, the Government has no respect and puts little value on the life of common man.

The special commission constituted at the behest of the Supreme Court last year to investigate into six selected encounters involving security forces gave their observation that all the cases they investigated were pure cases of fake encounters.

This observation testifies how much value the Government has for the life of common man.

Had the Government been little sensitive, Irabanta could have been rescued and saved not long after he was abducted.

But the hard fact is, the Government’s sensitivity is too low to understand and emphatize with the trauma, stress and insecurity felt by the missing man’s family ever since he disappeared.

The State’s insensitivity and indifference is not restricted to Irabanta and his family but applicable to all citizens with the exception of a handful of well-connected, wealthy elites.

In the State’s lexicon, security means security of the VVIPs, VIPs, elites, their families and relatives.

Common man does not figure in the whole scheme of things.