At last, a semblance of action against rampant extortion and illegal taxation in the state has come up from the Manipur Police and security apparatus, although a question remains whether the response taken up are adequate or not. Nevertheless, we should try to appreciate the effort. We have been consistently raising the menace of extortion and lack of response from the state law enforcing agencies. There had been protests in various parts of the state against illegal taxation and extortion.
As society goes back to the old days when ragtag armed groups and factions had become ‘dime a dozen’, monetary demands had become commonplace, so much so that the general public had begun to accept the menace as something from which one cannot escape. That sense of utter dejection and helplessness combined with state’s lack of adequate response had somehow numbed the public conscience. The fear of reprisal with shootings and ‘demand’ bombs had created an atmosphere where one is forced to succumb to such threats.
In the past, the valley had its share of armed organizations borne out of a revolutionary zeal or in pursuit of self-determination or the oppressive regime of draconian laws and widespread violations of human rights.
Like elsewhere in such situations, the baggage of ragtag groups and factions followed thereby muddying up the waters. The general public, particularly the affluent and middle-class families, have had innumerable struggles in identifying the ‘genuine’ from the ‘pretenders’ and many had lost their lives. Because, every group whether ‘genuine’ or fake have guns and bombs in their kitty and a nuisance value. The business lobby based in the Imphal main market, the contractors and suppliers, the salaried class and even entrepreneurs were not spared in the extortion business.
While most of the established groups go for percentages, the ragtag groups and factions would try to extract whatever amount they could and the rate is commensurate with their nuisance value. For the monied or the affluent families, they at least had their wealth and properties to fall back upon. But it was beyond a burden for the other groups who are included in ‘their’ demand bracket.
Last year, after ethnic clashes erupted in the state the extortion business gradually returned and now it has become a menace to the society. It started with donations for general upkeep and expenses to support the village volunteer forces in the frontlines and in the trenches, to which everyone contributed without any complaints. Some people even went directly to the fringe areas and donate whatever they could. As regards food and lodging, it was taken care of by the host villages.
And then, the ‘requests’ for donations towards buying of guns, bullets and drones came. In all these, everyone complied without even a grudge. Suddenly, several ragtag groups which had become more or less dormant sprang up with a gusto to join in the melee. And, it became indistinguishable to many. The demands, threats, bombs and guns came back in a rush. In such a situation, creation of a dedicated cell to deal with the menace and appeal to the general public is well and good but not adequate.
A secure environment needs to be created for the public to come forward and give cooperation to the police as people are always wary of retaliation or reprisal from those groups they had fingered. Police action should be in such a way that would not bring suspicion to members of the public or informers. Rather, police action should be seen as outcome of their intelligence network or made to believe so.
We understand that, not everyone cannot be provided security coverage like they do in the commercial hub of Imphal. The Khwairamband Keithel area is compact and police patrols or checkposts are plenty. But in the outlying areas, providing environmental security would be herculean task. So, strategists in the police establishment need to evolve a strategy to provide a sense of security to evoke public cooperation.
