Satyabhama the like murders: where government cause lawlessness

The government of Manipur is condemnable for non prevention of torching and dismantle of dwelling houses of murderers and sexual abusers by irate public for the last ten (10) years in the Imphal valley.

Today, whenever crime of murder and sexual abuse occurs, the mindset of the valley community is to go for taking the law into their hands. Tomorrow, such mindset will prevail on crime of robbery, minor crimes, on death and injuries caused by accidents without going deep into the root cause of the happenings.

One of the cause of the ugly actions may be, the government do not investigate swiftly and arrest the culprits and suspects for “uncall” reasons. In other words, the people have lost faith with the government that unless and until the people take to violence the government will not act, which is most dangerous and Manipur is facing the music. On the whole, action of torching and dismantling on the properties and assets of the culprits by the people and later the law taking its course of action is double punishment.

But to top it, torching and dismantling of the dwelling houses who had given shelter and kept assets of the culprits family is unimaginable and inhuman. In N.Satyabhama murder case, when rampage was going on, what was the Manipur administration and the general Meitei community doing, especially on those who had sheltered the culprits and those who had kept some assets of the culprits.

Manipur is small state and the Imphal valley as the state capital, thousands of Civil Police, Assam Rifles, Manipur Rifles and other security forces are stationed and could reach Bashikhong in case of Satyabhama murder within no time or put up security barriers will ahead when the mob was building up.

But the government shy away and allowed to “soften” the anger of the mob at the cost of destructions and lawlessness in such cases for the last many years. The judiciary and the people ought to pull up the government for law and order to prevail in the days ahead.

Mao Customary Law: Mao customary law or for that matter the other Naga Tribes has similarities in the course of dismantling the murderers’ households, the neighbours and surrounding villagers intervene and prevent maximum destruction. Then ten (10) cows are slaughtered. If ten cows are not in the possession of the murderer family “any” living animals are added to make it ten. Then the family of the murderer are boycotted for seven (7) years from the village. The seven years may shorten if the victim family forgive the wrongdoer. Whatever belongings of the murderers family kept aside in the neighbours house(s) cannot be touched by the rampaging party.That,the traditional dismantle and animal slaughters has been disbanded and instead rupees three lakhs (Rs.3,00,000) penalty are imposed on the culprits.

Apart from the murder case settlements, person under physical assault for any reason, if a woman, women took out their waist clothes and cover the person under attack, the attackers are taboo for further attacks.

Patrick A. Kolakhe
Senapati District

 

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Readers may please note that the contents of the articles, letters and opinions published do not reflect  the outlook of this paper  nor  of the  Editor in any form.



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