Why Mob precedes Police ?
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 08, 2014 -

It has often been witnessed in Manipur that ‘in the aftermath of a heinous crime, the local mob always precedes the police in identifying and punishing the culprit. The state police and intelligence agencies have apparently failed to respond to crimes against women and children in the state particularly in rural areas.

In the case of murder of a 5-year old girl called Maibam Miranda of Wabgai Tentha Thambal hillock under Kakching Police station in August 2012, the concerned police station was far behind the local people in identifying the culprit.

After four days of the gruesome incident, an angry mob lynched the culprit and his wife, well before the police could find out any clue.

In the recent case of murder of Lourembam Ranjita of Yairipok too, the local mob thronged the residence of the alleged murderer and burnt his house before the police could name any suspect.

Regarding the murder of an 8-year old girl at Tharoijam Maning Leikai in Imphal West district on Wednesday last, the enraged local people conducted a search operation in the locality to identify the murderer.

On Thursday, the local mob thrashed the alleged culprit, before the police could arrest anyone in connection with the case.

It is evident that the police stations particularly in the outskirts of the headquarters do not act swiftly on the FIRs lodged on them by the aggrieved people.

Such lethargic actions of the police establishments across the state have surely embarrassed the state Home Department, which has been credited for owning meritorious officers and personnel as compared to other states of India.

Police in Manipur seem to be more active in escorting the VIPs and VVIPs, than in handling cases pertaining to common people.

Numerous cases of murders, rapes and assaults on women and children have happened in the state, but the state police have not registered their credible achievements in rescuing and saving the victims.

Moreover, security in the periphery is seen less alert and energetic than those in the VIP dominated areas.

It is obvious that the meaning of security in Manipur is limited to protecting important persons, rather than ensuring safety of common people in the far-away places.

Even though, the State Home Minister often claims improvement of law and order situation in Manipur with the energetic role played by Manipur Police Department, the ground reality has reduced his words to a mere oration.

Before modernizing the police department by equipping sophisticated equipment, the state Home department needs to activate the lethargic police establishments in the rural areas of Manipur so that they extend their quick responses to FIRs lodged by the common people.