The zero FIR, zero lesson
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 22, 2024 -
In what appears to be "all sound and fury, signifying nothing", chief minister N Biren Singh took to the micro blogging site X on May 20, announcing that his BJP-led government in Manipur has "immediately taken up measures to book any group or individuals involved in changing existing names of places in the state."
In the same post, N Biren added, "Under Manipur Names of Places Act, 2024, a case has also been registered for renaming a part of Thangjing hill range as 'Thangting'".
If the chief minister was referring to the zero FIR that has been registered at Imphal police station against Kuki National Front-Military Council following the viral social media images of a gate with signboard installed at the base of the sacred Thangjing ching (hill) calling it "Thangting camp" of the "Kuki Army", then he has much explaining to do over what he claimed to be immediate steps taken up by his government to book any group or individuals involved in changing the names of places in the state.
Apart from the fact that the said zero Fl R no (0(05) 2024 IPS us 120-B/153A/295A/400/505(1)(b) IPC & 26 Indian Forest Act, 1927 has been registered only after the Under Secretary (Land Resources), Government of Manipur wrote to the Officer-in-Charge of Imphal police station, the chief minister could very well start off by explaining to the people why his government has not only taken long to do the needful of giving necessary instruction to the police station concerned when the photographs of the 'gate' in question had remained floating on social media for quite some time now.
Of course, a Zero FIR can be registered at any police station, regardless of jurisdiction, but why wasting the time in transferring the case to Khoupum police station in Churachandpur district as the PO falls under the jurisdiction of its PS.
Is it not another admission that the administrative works in- Churachandpur district are now out of the bound of BJP-led government in the state?
In these given scenarios, it is more than unlikely for the BJP-led government to bring to justice any group or individuals involved in changing existing names of places in the state regardless of the enactment of the Manipur Names of Places Act, 2024.
Leaving aside the question of effectiveness of the Manipur Names of Places Act, 2024, which was enacted to make changing names of places without approval a punishable offence, the very fact that an armed Kuki militant group erected a gate at the base of Thangjing ching, which is not only a place considered sacred by the Meetei/Meitei but also a site protected under Section 4 of the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976, should be enough ground for the government to act immediately as such activities have the potential to flare up communal tension and confrontation in the state.
As the state is already reeling under the impact of an over one year long ethnic conflict that broke out between the Meetei/Meitei and Kuki-Chin communities on May 3, 2023, it is incumbent upon the N Biren Singh-led BJP government to stay alert and act fast to nip at the bud any potential threat to social harmony.
This is a lesson the government authorities should have learnt long ago, especially after the incident of burning an open gym facility in Churachandpur town the chief minister was supposed to inaugurate as discontentment of the residents against their own elected representative.
So, registration of a zero FIR against Kuki National Front-Military Council only after photographs of a gate of the militant group with signboard installed at the base of the sacred Thangjing ching (hill) calling it "Thangting camp" of the Kuki Army remained floating on social media for a long time, has shown that the chief minister, who interestingly happens to be someone hyper-active on social media, has either been caught napping or is in dire need of shrewd aides.
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