Studying the merits and demerits : Should be PS not district police
- Sangai Express Editorial :: October 16 , 2013 -

The merits and the demerits need to be studied. There should be no arguments over this.

Equally, if not more important than this, is to study how the arguments or justifications or grievances have been raised.

The United Naga Council, the Kuki Inpi-Saikul Gamkai and Saikul Area Naga Peoples’ Organisation have valid points in asserting that it does not make any sense at all in bringing 120 villages in Saikul sub-division under the Imphal East district police and Thoubal district police.

On the other hand, it is also mischievous to interpret this as a design to carry out the ‘communal policy’ of the Government of Manipur.

Like districts, the jurisdictions of police stations should be strictly on the basis of administrative convenience.

This is where it is incumbent on the part of the Home Department to explain why it has decided to bring 120 villages lying in Saikul sub-division of Senapati district under Thoubal district police and Imphal East district police.

Is it for administrative convenience or does this reflect the adhoc approach of the Government towards the affairs of the State.

On the other hand, it is also perturbing to note that the opposition to the move of the Government has not been based on the premise of effective policing but has been interpreted along communal divides, which is not only unhealthy but also mischievous.

That there is the need to streamline the jurisdiction of police stations has long been felt, but till date no serious attempt to work towards this has been seen or demonstrated.

For example, it certainly does not make much sense for Keithelmanbi on NH-37 to come under Senapati police station. Administrative convenience cannot be read into this, by any stretch of the imagination.

Likewise, it is not clear which leiraks or leikais in Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency fall under Lamphel police station or Imphal police station. On the other hand it makes sense to bring Langol, which comes under Sadar Hills, under Lamphel police station.

The one basic flaw that one sees in the present arrangement is the decision to bring the said villages in Saikul under the nomenclature of Thoubal district police and Imphal East district police.

This is far removed from bringing the said villages under specific police stations, whether it falls under Imphal East or Thoubal or Senapati.

A gaffe or the unwillingness to take stock of the political and social reality in Manipur ?

A situation which is unwarranted when competing forces on land and resources have reared its ugly head radically.

As said earlier, the State Home Department do need to explain its stand on the matter.

But then again to interpret all the shortcomings of the Government along communal lines would be taking things a little too far.

To say that bringing 120 villages under the jurisdiction of police based in two valley districts amounts to trying to intrude and steal tribal lands would be taking things a little too far.

The people of Manipur, of course have become used to such diatribes thrown up by different organisations, especially from the hill districts and in the process such diatribes may have lost its potency, but this should be no reason for the people not to be wary of the designs of some elements.

This is all that more important in a place like Manipur, where there is a Government which has abysmally failed to read the pulse of the people.

The Home Department should explain its stand and the organisations opposing the decision of the Home Department should desist from trying to give a communal tinge to the issue.

This should be the stand of every right thinking people.