Trigger-happy cops devil in protector’s cloak
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 09, 2023 -

AS the home department is the largest provider of employment, it is rather fortunate for the unprotected general population of Manipur that there is no uniformity related to incidents of police rowdyism.

Of course, during the height of insurgency movement there were frequent reports of police high-handedness such as roughing up and thrashing or gunning down both unarmed insurgent activists and civilians on the ground of mere suspicion.

Such haughty attitude and atrocious conduct of the men in uniform have declined to a great extent these days in sync with the dip in insurgency-related incidents and there had been an aura of bonhomie between the police and the public.

Nevertheless, along with the semblance of normalcy in the state there has been isolated but grossly embarrassing cases of police personnel found involved in socially repugnant activities such as collection of the so-called protection money from liquor vendors and small-time traders for selling restricted or banned products, beating up and harassing drivers of commercial goods carriers along the state and national highways for defying unauthorised tax money demand and even peddling of narcotic substances to name just a few.

Though only a handful of rogue police personnel are involved in such misdemeanours, it’s an undeniable fact that these elements bring shame to the entire home department and ruin efforts of their sincere colleagues and senior officers to project the police as guardians of the public life and properties.

The constant endeavours to enhance profile of the police often get diluted whenever anti-social acts committed by any personnel surface, especially considering the fact that deployment of security personnel in public places is of paramount importance to instil a sense of security among the general population.

Therefore, few weeks after a woman bystander got killed at Pallel when a rascal telecom operator of Manipur police opened fire at another woman shop runner that sparked impromptu violent protests by the locals and led to manhandling of the accused cop, another similar incident of an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) posted at City police station shooting and injuring a woman on January 5 night in Sagolband area should be a huge embarrassment for the home department.

Prima facie evidences in both these recent cases underscore extra-marital affairs of the accused police personnel.

As a formality, the accused duo has been placed under suspension pending findings of departmental enquiries but there is strong suspicion that like in other criminal cases involving police personnel the accused cops might be reinstated and allowed to perform duty as the so-called saviours of public.

As per statements issued by civil and rights organisations vis-a-vis the Pallel case, the weapon used was a license sidearm whereas in the Sagolband incident a service weapon was used.

It is obvious that the public wouldn’t care to introspect whether or not the firearms used in committing the crime were personal possession or issued by the government as the worrying aspect of the incidents is the mind-set of the perpetrators.

Their act is akin to ringing out the message that police personnel are above the law and they could escape severe punishment if service of suave interpreters of the country’s legal system could be roped in.

However, in view of the government gloating that there has been significant improvement in the law and order situation in the state and harmonious relationship between the police and the public, there is no valid reason why the trigger-happy and recalcitrant elements within the force should not be at-least excluded from the society.