KSO Sadar Hills condemns 'high handedness' of Sekmai police
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, June 15 2021: The Kuki Students' Organization Sadar Hills condemned the alleged high-handedness of Sekmai police upon a Theologian on June 12 .

Thangtinlen Haokip, general secretary, KSO Sadar Hills alleged that on June 12 afternoon Jangkholun Haokip, a Theologian at Manipur Theological College was physically assaulted, verbally abused by Sekmai Police Station Officer-in-charge and an ASI at Kanglatongbi while the Theologian was on his way to Imphal for an emergency at around 3 pm.

He alleged that the police on duty enforcing curfew detained the Theologian and asked him to pay Rs 400 as a fine, which the Theologian was reluctant to pay as ironically there were many other vehicles and people freely moving on the road.

He also said that the OC Sekmai PS allegedly asked the Theologian to speak in Manipuri while the Theologian wanted to reason and told the officer that he was more comfortable speaking in English.

It was when the Theologian questioned the police as to why other vehicles and people were not being stopped for violating the curfew, that an ASI manhandled him against his right to freedom of expression, he alleged.

The student body leader continued that the police even threatened the Theologian to take him away by ambulance while he was reluctant to pay the fine having his reason and even restricted him to talk on the phone and communicate with his friend who was with the Theologian at the time.

He further alleged that when the Theologian decided to stay and go with police as the law demands, the police forced him to leave telling him that it was the last warning.

Incidents of police high-handedness in enforcing curfew have been seen very often these days, misusing their authority to intimidate the common people which has become unfortunate and unexpected on the part of the law enforcing agencies, he added.

It is evident that while some police officers and personnel are working honestly, some are misusing their authority and the audacity of such dishonest policemen might set a very bad image to the police fraternity, he asserted.

"While we appreciated the noble sacrifice and efforts of honest and sincere police officers and personnel, we also condemned the high-handedness and undisciplined behaviors of such dishonest cops", Thangtinlen Haokip said.

The student body draws sincere attention and intervention from the authority concerned to take appropriate action against such undisciplined cops and ensure similar incidents don't happen in the future.

The student body further said that as the Theologian had already filed a complaint to the competent authority, we shall endorse and support him to get justice.

Meanwhile, the Theologian had reportedly submitted a report to the concerned competent authority and appealed to the people not to remain mute spectators to any form of violation of human rights perpetrated by the police of any other group.

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