Security personnel have become political scapegoats: Maoist

IMPHAL | Sept 2

The proscribed Maoist Communist Party, Manipur said there have been many cases of security forces being used for wrongful purposes by the politicians and the latter have become political victims as a result.  

Out of several cases, one that was very obvious and made the people raise their eyebrows, was the case of one police officer being severely beaten up in front of his family in by the escort of the former speaker, an MLA from Khundrakpam assembly constituency said a release signed by coordinator, standing Committee, Kyonghan Mangang.  

It became apparent to all that the escorts were encouraged by the powerful politicians to beat up a police officer, it said. As the politician gave them the courage, they no longer had any fear of going against the law, it further said.

When the matter had reached court, the politician was kept from harm’s way but those who had shown extra courage on that day under the impression that  politicians will be there to protect them, had to bow their heads in shame, it continued. This incident is one pure example of security personnel acting like gangsters by breaking laws in order to protect the politicians, it further said. However, this was just the tip of the iceberg, it added.

On the other hand, many cases of extra judicial killings that occurred during the last 15 years of Ibobi’s rule have reached the Supreme Court, it continued. There are records of former chief minister himself admitting in the assembly session saying “We have no other choice except to kill”, it added. Those words expressed in the assembly session have deeper implications and they actually mean to suggest that all those fake encounters were committed under the consent of the government, the release alleged.       

When the matter finally reached the Supreme Court, the police personnel have resorted to collecting money privately to fight their own cases, it said. Regarding this, all the security personnel and the people of Manipur need to carefully analyse the matter, it continued.

Meanwhile, gallantry awards have been given to those police personnel who abuse drugs and indulge in alcohol and kill anyone without a second thought, it alleged. Their promotion became an insult to the service career of those sincere and hardworking people at the police department, it added. 

These are examples of security personnel being utilised as the muscle of the politicians, it alleged. This has caused many sufferings due to the loss of many sons, husbands amongst so many families, it further said.          

Those politicians, who controlled the security forces when the fake encounter cases were happening, are now living without any concerns; the release alleged adding, this has caused the security personnel to become victims and made to collect funds amongst themselves now.   

Those security personnel who were involved in fake encounters would not get any help from the general public as they were extremely ruthless, and now they have fewer supporters from the inner circle of security forces, it maintained.

Regardless of all this, the powerful politicians will not receive any harm though the security personnel who enjoyed the former’s ‘perks’ will have to fight their cases alone at the Supreme Court, it said.

Therefore, those security personnel who will be visiting the Supreme Court must learn the important lessons and remaining ones should realize by now that following every command of the politicians will only cause them to suffer in end, it continued.  

The new development of fake encounter cases in the Supreme Court is an important lesson to our society, it further said. The organisation appealed to every individual and authorities concerned not to fall into the traps of the politicians, and to leave aside all differences and become one regarding the fake encounter cases and help bring justice, it added.