Militant-politician nexus: Manipur Govt to take action in future cases

It appears now that the Cabinet decision on Monday to initiate action and withdraw security cover for MLAs...

It appears now that the Cabinet decision on Monday to initiate action and withdraw security cover for MLAs found to be harbouring militants applies only to future cases, which means that no steps are likely to be taken as of now against the four sitting and two former MLAs from whose official quarters 14 suspected militants were picked up in three raids. In the latest raid on Sunday, one PREPAK militant was arrested from the official quarters of CPI MLA Borajao.

Confirming this, Manipur Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh said those found to be harbouring militants would be dealt with severely. 8220;This doesn8217;t apply only to MLAs but to all persons,8221; Singh said, but refrained from giving reasons as to why past cases would not be considered. However, a Cabinet minister on conditions of anonymity told The Indian Express: 8220;Law enforcement agencies are now collecting evidence for the past cases. There was little preparedness for the outcome of the first raid. Because of this, it was decided during Monday8217;s Cabinet meeting to take action only in future cases.8221;

While it has been long suspected that there was an active nexus between politicians and the militant outfits operating here, no substantive breakthrough had been made till August 17 this year, when 12 alleged militants were apprehended from the VIP area of Babupara from the residences of four politicians.

Of those detained, eight KYKL activists were arrested from the residence of Congress MLA W Brajabidhu Singh. One PREPAK cadre had been picked up from MLA Bijoy Koijam8217;s quarters, one KCP and PLA cadre each from MLA K Meghachandra Singh8217;s, and a KCP cadre from ex-MLA Sovakiran Singh8217;s residence. In a second raid on September 16, one KYKL and one NSCN I-M cadre were arrested from the VIP zone, and Sunday8217;s arrest brought the tally to 14.

The Cabinet decision has evoked criticism across party lines. Former Secretary Law and ex-MLA L Ibomcha Singh questioned the legality of the proposed action. 8220;The arrest of the 14 individuals from MLA quarters does not confirm that they are indeed militants, nor does their detention under the National Security Act. The NSA is meant for preventive detention. It8217;s only after an appropriate court convicts them that it can legally be said that they are militants. Also, why these random raids once in a while? Why not raid the quarters of all 60 MLAs simultaneously? This is nothing but political victimisation.8221;

Since the first raid in August, a section of MLAs have maintained that the raids are politically motivated. The Congress Legislative Party has been divided among those supporting Ibobi Singh and those calling for his ouster, said to be led by MPCC chief Gaikhangam. During raids in the past, police sources complained that political intervention had botched up several instances of arrests. Presently, several 8220;dissident8221; MLAs are camping in New Delhi, trying to get the Congress high command to consider removing Ibobi.

Borajao said his constituency had a lot of people residing there. 8220;How can I know the identity and antecedents of all the people who visit me at my quarters? So many people come to meet me,8221; he said. Senior police officials were not available for comment.