Conflicts always have one peculiarity. No such problems as in Manipur in north east India can be solved through military or policing; but "policing" is a major project always on the way to bring normalcy and ensure a lasting peace.
In Manipur too as the first rounds of unprecedented violence started in May 2023, the role of police was the first thing that came into focus. A new DGP was brought in from another northeastern state of Tripura - Rajiv Singh.
He took charge from a Kuki predecessor in June 2023 - less than a month since the crisis engulfed the state of Manipur - which was otherwise extremely well in various parameters of developments.
Since taking over, the DGP has said and done what any good professional would do in his position.
He has said that the state is facing challenging times on 'multiple fronts', but the police are working to tackle the situation with the help of the public, security agencies, and community leaders. Importantly, leaders from both the communities have been cooperating with the police and other central forces whenever their views and services are required.
DGP Rajiv Singh has also said in the past that the police are working with other central forces to recover looted weapons and reduce the "weaponization of the society".
This continues to be a critical area of operation in Manipur. Police are acting - most of the time - overtime for peace and normalcy in the state.
Having reported on various conflicts in various parts of India, one has also discovered and at times rediscovered multiple and complex nature of challenges the police force face while discharging their duties.
But one thing generally works better is to try out 'best practices' in other states.
Various schemes of things have been tried out of course. But both the central government and the Manipur government have not tried out one of the 'Tripura models' of policing.
Reasons for not doing so are best left to the appropriate hierarchy and the policy makers; but we may try to put things in the right perspective.
In Tripura during the peak of militancy and tension between tribals and non-tribals; the state authorities had gone for formation of a new force - Tripura State Rifles.
It achieved multiple things and it had a few pre-conditions that made things fetch immense dividends.
First, it ensured Govt jobs for a large number of youths from various vulnerable locations and practically from all sections of people including native tribes.
Secondly, it brought in a new organisation where tribals and non tribals worked together, went through the tough training deals together and of course ate the same food and slept together.
So down the line, outside the TSR camps too amongst both the communities, the missive of 'working with a unity of purpose' left a good message.
And now comes the interesting part of the TSR model; it was enforced by design that 25 per cent of the new force will be from outside Tripura.
Hence TSR battalion had personnel and NCOs from across India -- for instance Salem (in Tamil Nadu) and from Bihar, a few northern states and even far off Jaisalmer and Ajmer in Rajasthan in the west.
This is not a trade secret I am sharing here. A senior cop from Tripura, the Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh is very much aware of this. He should and possibly must have spoken to his higher ups in Imphal to try out this model.
If he has not recommended or mooted the suggestion yet; he must do it at the earliest.
The big advantage of having say 250 personnel from various parts of India in a force of 1000 is that those 'outsiders' to the state will be neutral in their operations and in discharge of other duties.
There will not be a 'baggage' of liking or disliking a community or the other. This was all the more important from Manipur's perspective.
The state DGP was a Kuki officer and a good professional when the crisis first started; but as we all possibly know such a fact of life did not make his life comfortable as the top cop in the state in the eventful calendar year 2023.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment