Cops of all ranks decry life bid on fellow cop
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 29 2024: Manipur Police personnel of all ranks starting from VDF to the Director General of Police (DGP) have condemned in the strongest terms the alleged life attempt on an MPS officer and other commando personnel by a large number of armed miscreants on February 27 night.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Police Headquarters today, IGP (Administration) K Jayenta stated a large number of armed miscreants rushed to the residence of Additional SP (Operation) Imphal West M Amit and started firing and vandalizing household properties and vehicles parked inside the residential complex of M Amit on February 27 .

The armed miscreants also intimidated family members of the police officer with guns.

The armed miscreants even abducted Additional SP M Amit from the spot after assaulting some commando personnel including Inspector P Achouba, OC Imphal West Commando and also snatched some arms and ammunition from the commando personnel but timely intervention by Manipur Police managed to rescue M Amit.

He underwent treatment in a hospital.

In connection with the incident, numerous concocted narratives are being circulated on various platforms including social media defaming the police officer, leading to character assassination of the police officer.

It is important for all right thinking citizens to understand the origin and circumstances which led to the unprecedented and unprovoked incident, IGP (Admin) K Jayenta said.

The concocted narratives allege that the officer is a corrupted person, anti-Meitei and working for his personal gain to get gallantry medal which are totally baseless, the IGP (Admin) said, adding that Manipur Police Department condemns the concocted narratives in the strongest terms.

The officer is honest, qualified, dedicated and always ready to respond to the call of duty.

"In my 36 years long career as a police officer, I did not come across such an incident of attacking a police officer by armed miscreants even during the peak of insurgency", K Jayenta said.

"At present, we are going through a critical crisis for the past 10 months due to communal clashes between two communities, leading to death of many people and destruction of properties worth crores", he said.

Since the beginning of the crisis, officers and personnel of Manipur Police Department have been working tirelessly with dedication round the clock in every affected district and fringe areas, said the IGP (Admin) .

At present, many womenfolk of various areas have been demanding deployment of State forces in their respective areas as they are doing their duties with total neutrality, without favouring or acting against any community, Jayenta said.

He then asked how they would perform their duties if the family members of police officers and police personnel are targeted by armed miscreants.

The general public need to be aware that the only alternative for maintenance of law and order, and protection of life and properties of citizens when police are not allowed to perform their duties is requisition of armed forces.

Instead of defaming police officers and the Police Department as a whole, the public ought to extend support to the Manipur Police to boost the morale of the officers and police personnel, K Jayenta added.

IGP (Operation) K Kabib clarified about the misleading narrative and narrated some facts about the incident.

He said that information was received about the stealing/snatching of two ambassador cars by some unknown armed miscreants from Government oil depot located at North AOC on February 27 afternoon.

Based on the information, all the police stations and Nakas were informed to intercept the stolen vehicles.

Additional SP M Amit, assisted by Inspector P Achouba intercepted the stolen/snatched cars and apprehended one man who was part of committing the crime.

Later an FIR was registered at Imphal police station under different sections, and investigation is on.

The police officers were doing lawful, mandated duties but a large number of armed miscreants stormed the house of M Amit, opened fire and vandalized household properties and vehicles parked inside the residential complex of M Amit.

The armed miscreants also intimidated his family members by firing bullets.

IK Muivah, IGP (Intelligence) stated that the State police have been doing their duties as per the law of the land and considering the safety and security of all the citizens of the State.

If the civil police are not able to perform their normal duties due to lack of cooperation from the public or due to the obstruction from different civil society organizations or other organizations, then Central security forces such as CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles and Army must be asked to assist the State police for maintaining law and order.

Such a scenario would be far more undesirable, IK Muivah said.

He appealed to the general public to give maximum cooperation to the State Police and understand the prevailing situation in the State.

People of the State had already experienced in the past few decades how it was like when Central forces were entrusted with the task of maintaining law and order, he said.

Most of the weapons which were snatched on February 27 by unknown armed miscreants have been recovered and the police are planning to carry out search operations to recover the remaining weapons, said the IGP (Intelligence) .

He also appealed to the general public not to use social media in the wrong way, specially not for character assassination.

Deputy Commissioners of various districts have already sent requisitions for Central paramilitary forces and army following the February 27 incident to help out State police.

After the media briefing, a press statement was handed over to media persons.

The press statement mentioned that the group of armed miscreants involved in the February 27 incident have been indulging in many anti-social activities like assaulting civilians, snatching of vehicles from public and Government offices and also extortion from common public and businessmen.

It also said that the particular group has been garnering false support from the public in the garb of protecting the public but they are committing many anti-social activities and criminal acts.

The public must not be misled but give cooperation to Manipur Police in bringing peace and tranquillity back in the State, it said.

Use of social media to target any officer or unit will be strongly dealt with by taking up cases and action and combing operation will continue in the days to come and no one responsible for such criminal activities will be spread, it said.

It also mentioned that Manipur Police, from top to bottom, is a united team and any attack on anyone will be taken seriously and stringent action will be taken up.

Extensive area domination drives were conducted in the valley district last night by a combined force of MR, IRB, commandos and civil police led by SPs of five different districts, it added.

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