CorCom to punish 'mob justice spearheads'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 20 2013: Claiming to have enough evidence to prove that most incidents related to mob-justice against UG sympathisers are due to abetment by security force authorities, CorCom said it will take befitting action against those involved in mob-justice.

A statement issued by CorCom media coordinator H Poirei said the six-UG group conglomerate launched specific investigation in the last 2-3 years into incidents of mob-justice against sympathisers of UG activists eventually unearthing clues that attacking houses of UG sympathisers to protest certain incidents were actually planned and the target finalised at security force camps located in the area of incidents.

In most cases of mob-justice against UG sympathisers act of violence was not spontaneous but an outcome of deliberate planning.

In addition to evidences about instigating the public the CorCom investigation has confirmed information on monetary assistance to certain vested interest to ensure that devastation is caused to property of the accused person, claimed Poirei adding that threat and intimidation by the security forces are common in such incidents.

Threats and intimidations are mostly served to local clubs and CSO functionaries as well as former UGs with the security force officials cautioning them that they would be considered as UG associates or supporters if no action is taken against the accused/UG sympathisers, contended the statement while noting that it is also possible about past personal enmity between the sympathiser and the aggressor sparking acts of violence.

Moreover, political differences leading to acts of mob-justice cannot be ruled out, Poirei expressed while affirming that genesis of all these incidents are undoubtedly security forces instigating the public.

Based on the findings, CorCom firmly believes that all acts of mob-justice against UG sympathisers such as burning down houses, ravaging private properties and public meetings resolving to ostracise the victim are actually anti-revolutionary for which the aggressor, instigator as well as the mob-justice spearhead would be punished according to severity of the incidents/violence.

Moreover, individuals found leading/instigating the mob will have to pay compensation to the victim at double the amount of properties damaged, Poirei maintained.

Stating that mob-justice refers to committing acts of violence either without proper authentication about the information or on hearsay, he pointed out that acting on unconfirmed report/instinct might victimise innocent people, proof beneficial to individuals looking for revenge, provide selfish individuals to grab the victim' homestead land and amount to might is right.

Likening mob-justice to lawlessness, CorCom reminded that no wise or correct decision could be taken under tension or prevalence of charged atmosphere.

In the same way, rendering other family members homeless for a single individual committing mistake is not justifiable and there is also the possibility of the victimised party deviating from acceptable norms of the society due to economic constraints, observed the UG conglomerate while asking who should be held responsible if one of the victims commit more serious crime ? As justice cannot be guaranteed by mob-justice and the victim party not provided a chance to prove innocence, such acts of violence could be safely concluded as instances of insanity, said Poirei.

Regarding security force instigating mob-violence, he alleged that such an agenda is a component of subduing the ongoing armed campaign to restore Manipur's lost sovereignty.

With the security force authorities realising that dissociating the common public from UG groups is one of the factors to lessen impact of the revolutionary movement it might be construed that by instigating certain individuals to target UG sympathisers security forces have made significant progress in one of its counter-insurgency plans, Poirei opined appealing to the people of Manipur to understand that mob-justice has no place either in a civilised society or is against the universal concept of justice.

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