stuin

Churachandpur, June 20 : The recent Cabinet decision on deployment of police commandos at Churachandpur in particular, and also in all other hill districts of the state, is likely to invite vociferous protests in the state.

As elsewhere in the state, the Churachandpur District Students’ Union, CDSU, are preparing to fight the move tooth and nail as the new move is not expected to solve the present socio-economic problems confronting the district.

In a memorandum submitted to the chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio, today, the CDSU said Churachandpur remains comparatively peaceful since the government signed the Suspension of Operation, SoS, with various Churachandpur based armed groups.

Stating that the IRB and police commandos, who have already lost credibility for their dubious record in the valley areas, will simply shatter the hard earned peace and tranquility, it said the intra-tribal tensions remained controlled and in certain areas even unlawful activities remains under control effectively due to the presence of the Army.

Informing the chief minister of an recent incident, it said recently agitated students attacked and burnt down the Churachandpur police station when provoked by the police commandos.

"Today fake encounters, extra-judicial killings, unnecessary harassment of innocent citizens, rampant abuse of the dignity and rights of the citizens, and making of unwarranted arrests have become the hallmark of the police," it said.

Citing reports from the Imphal Free Press and The Sangai Express of some fake encounters, the CDSU said “rationality and reasoning have lost its meaning and are replaced by brute force and guns in any place the police commandos are deployed.”

While stating that the deployment of IRB and the Manipur police commandos would result in more human rights violations and the rule of law, it said militarisation and use of such forces could never be a solution to the socio-economic, development and the democratic problems prevailing in the hill areas of Manipur.

It urged the government to give more priority to restoration of civil administration at all the sub-divisional headquarters, and defunct police outposts at Parbung, Singngat, Henglep and Thanlon which was happening since 1997-1998 in spite of such militarisation.