Assault on hawker
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 02, 2012 -

On July 31, newspapers in Manipur failed to hit the stands with media houses remaining shut in solidarity with the strike call given by All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors' Association (AMNSDA) in protest against the assault and looting of a newspaper hawker by some personnel suspected to be police commandos.

Ningthoujam Bira, a newspaper hawker from Heirok but presently staying at Keishamthong, was returning home after distributing newspapers and collecting money at Thoubal and Wangjing area, when he was assaulted and robbed of his money, mobile phone and Honda Activa by the suspected Police Commandos after charging him to be a UG cadre at Kyamgei Pal Ahanbi area at around 8 pm on July 27.

As if that were not enough, the suspected police commandos also blindfolded Bira and took him to many places before being abandoned at Lilong Arapti area in the wee hours of the following day.

All these happened despite Bira identifying himself and showing his I-card. Condemning the incident, AMNSDA submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister and the Home Minister giving July 31 as the deadline for identification of culprits by questioning all the police personnel detailed for duty in the area on the day of the incident for taking up necessary actions.

Home Minister Gaikhangam too had given assurance that an investigation has begun and no guilty personnel would be spared. However, as in most cases, the assurance given was not translated into action and AMNSDA went ahead with its cease work strike.

Interestingly, the incident of assaulting and robbing of a poor and innocent newspaper hawker, has come about just a day after we raised the question why the 'elite force' of the state Police Department is becoming a despised force in the light of public opposition to any move over deployment of police commandos in any part of the state.

The answer to the question lies in such despicable conduct of the police commandos, who, instead of ensuring protection and a sense of security to the people, are rather known for their shameless involvement in various criminals activities right from crimes of serious nature like fake encounters, custodial torture and rape to petty thievery of snatching gold chain, cash and mobile phones, etc from innocent public.

The callosity of the police commandos has done nothing but to widen the chasm of public distrust against them.

As we have pointed out earlier, this is an indicative of a far greater rot within the system of policing the uncouth and unscrupulous police commandos and the Home Minister, who is supposedly on a mission to make the police commandos more humane, definitely has a daunting task ahead where no amount of assurances or promises would do wonder.

In fact, the incident of assaulting and robbing a poor newspaper hawker could be an opportune moment for the Home Minister to get his act together and show that he means business when he talks about streamlining the police department and disciplining the personnel.

By the way, Mr Home Minister, sir, how long does it take to question a handful of police personnel detailed for duty at a particular place and on a particular day?