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Manipur : Controversy over arming civilians to fight militancy |
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The controversy over the Manipur government’s efforts to arm villagers to fight back against militants has seen several twists and turns. The state government on May 23 took a decision not to use the newly recruited Special Police Officers (SPOs) in coun¬ter-insurgency operations but only to protect themselves and their own villages.
The government had been put on the back foot after residents of Heirok, who had originally asked the government for arms to protect themselves, raised their voice against Manipur police chief Y Joykumars’s stated intention of using the force for actively fighting insurgents. Representatives of the Joint Action Committee formed by the villagers said they wanted arms to pro¬tect themselves, and not to join the police and other security forces in combating the insurgents.
BJP demands President’s rule
The BJP is considering to press for imposition of Presi¬dent’s rule in Manipur. This was stated in Imphal on May 23 by P Chandrashekhar Rao, BJP’s Zonal Organizing Secretary for North-eastern States.
Blaming the UPA Government at the Centre and Okram Ibobi-led SPF Government in the State for the present breakdown in law-and-order situation in Manipur, the BJP leader said that the party is considering to press for imposition of President’s rule in Manip¬ur.
He said, “the need of the hour is imposition of President’s rule before the prevailing situation deteriorates and blows out of proportion”.
He maintained that Manipur is left in a state of confusion with lack of employment, rise of militancy and the state of security going a disastrous way. He revealed that a detailed report in this regard will be submitted to the Prime Minister and President of India soon for further action.
President of the BJP’s Manipur unit Borobabu alleged that the present government has failed in all aspects of governance. He said that the recent coming out of civilians asking for weapons to defend themselves, indicates that the present govern¬ment accepted that it failed to protect the people.
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