No ‘Anti-Romeo squads’ in Nagaland please

Moa Jamir  

State of affairs in Nagaland can be considered dystopian. The latest such trait manifested when some police personnel in guise of curbing an ‘illegal activity’ and responding to ‘reports of public nuisance’ appallingly subjected some teenagers to action ‘beyond their mandate’ and circulated videos of the incident on social media. According to the Dimapur Police, the incident occurred on April 12 at the Dimapur Stadium.  

The incident has expectedly caused huge outcry and complain of abuse of power and denigration by some over-enthusiast ‘moral guardians’ triumphantly broadcasting their pyrrhic victory to gain brownie points.  

Restraining or arresting an apprehendee following Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) is certainly unquestionable, but this galling behavior, carried out with disregard for any rulebook, is certainly unprecedented. It is morally degrading, emotionally devastating and legally questionable.  

Two things can be noted here. First, Nagaland is by law a ‘dry state’ which by default makes ‘illegal’ the possession, manufacture and consumption of alcohol. Beyond technicality, the practical application of such law is anybody’s guess.  

Second, the State by law has authorised certain entities the power to execute the law. However, if the police are carrying out a legal mandate, it also means that they have to operate within the parameters of the same law within which they are justifying their action.  

If one goes by the evidence provided by the video, prima facie no standard SoP were followed. Most importantly, if one peruses 'The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989' thoroughly, nowhere in the act it is mentioned that a police officer or any enforcing agency has a right to “shoot” videos of offenders and share it on social media. It smacks of extreme impunity, and total disregard for individual rights and privacy.  

In the present case, without a benefit of doubt, the police can be faulted in erring on the two counts; a charge the Dimapur Police has welcomingly conceded.  

Another aspect of the issue doing the rounds is whether the highhandedness of police and circulation of the video is punishable under relevant Information Technology Act and Juvenile Justice Act. Again, if the police action leads to any detrimental consequences, can they be held responsible for ‘abetment’?  

A preliminary analysis would frighteningly suggest a case of ‘Kangaroos Courts,’ often associated with fundamental entities. It is also eerily similar to the context of ‘moral policing’ – a term usually associated with vigilante groups which enforce a code of morality – often a personal or organizational interpretation which is uncodified and without any legal sanction. It reminds one of the controversial ‘Anti-Romeo squads’ gaining momentum in some India States.  

In the present case, the Dimapur Police has clarified that some of its personnel “acted in manners beyond their mandate” and the videos which went viral on social media are “illegal.” The police further said that necessary “disciplinary actions have being initiated and the personnel involved are being placed under suspension” and “any deviant behaviors or actions by its members will not be tolerated.”  

Dimapur Police, which in recent years have been associated with instilling a sense of professionalism and various laudable initiatives, have a tendency to get engulfed in cauldrons of controversy suggesting disconnect between its intention and execution. This calls for more holistic sensitization as well an improved ‘policing’ of its personnel to link the ‘intention’ and the outcome.  

Beyond the realm of the state machinery, however, many organisations are also inflicted with symptoms of high handed ‘vigilantism’ which often infringes upon personal freedom and legal sanction but implemented with regular impunity.  

While Dimapur Police have responded positively to the current incident, who will ‘police’ them? While we ponder over this question, it may be noted that we don’t need any ‘moral policing’ nor Anti-Romeo Squads in Nagaland.

For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com