Imphal, May 08: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has informed members of the 9th manipur Legislative Assembly today that under the provisions of Manipur Police Reforms' Bill, state and district level, complaint authorities have been established for promoting cordiality between the police force and general public.

Staving off persistent attacks from the Opposition members who vent their anguish and concern over the safety of civilians in the backdrop of frequent incidents of law enforcing agencies violating the rights of the people, the CM said that police-public ties can be improved once the proposed complaint authorities are set up.

Deliberating on matters concerning the police, vigilance, fire control and protection, home guards and rehabilitation on the fifth day of the ongoing session today, the Chief Minister, who is also in charge of the Home portfolio, exuded confidence that providing rooms for complaint to the citizens would facilitate the Government in culling definite informations to swing into action against all guilty police officials/personnel.

As part of the police modernisation programme, Pallel police outpost would be expanded to a full-fledged police station for which necessary fund has already been earmarked, said the Chief Minister.

Moreover, provision of requisite infrastructure for upgrading Sugnu, Moreh and Waikhong police stations on priority basis would be initiated, he added.

Joining the discussion, MPP's O Joy, Dr Ng Bijoy and RK Anand pointed out that police modernisation endeavours should not be confined to only arming the security personnel with modern weapons and gadgets but emphasis should be laid on improving the police-public relationship.

While the MPP trio was unanimous in opining that more than providing modern weaponry to the security forces, a solution needs to be worked out to stop security forces from committing excesses under the immunity granted by the Armed Forces Special Powers' Act 1958 they also expressed that all efforts to impress the general public of security personnel being their protectors would fall on deaf ears in case incidents of extra-custodial deaths, torture and abusing basic human rights persists in the State.

They further suggested that the general public should be granted prompt access to details on whereabouts of their near and dear ones arrested by security forces.

RK Anand insisted that as Chairman of the United Command set up for operational coordination between State and Central security forces, and in-charge of the Home Department, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has the added responsibility of stopping atrocities committed by security personnel and punish those found guilty in cases of custodial death.

In his comment O Joy observed that modern equipment and firearms issued to the State police force could not reflect positive side of the proposed police modernisation programme as rectifying their conduct and morality should be the basis of such endeavour.

Driving home his point, O Joy stated that due to the high-handedness and vindictive attitude of the men in uniform towards the general public, the people prefer to keep a safe distance from the armed personnel instead of expecting them to protect interest of the citizens.

Apart from referring to spurt of criminal activities in the recent past, the Opposition MLAs slammed the police establishment for failure to crack cases or book and punish criminals.

Instead of acting promptly and professionally the police department today is reduced to taking follow-up action of underground elements who expose criminal cases, they opined.

While Andro AC's, Th Shyamkumar desired improvement in conditions of imprisonment centres through provision of quality food and better medical facilities, MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi and Morung Makunga raised issues concerning fire services department.Responding to the latter duo, the CM conveyed that necessary processes had been initiated to purchase new fire fighting machineries including increasing number of fire tenders.

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