In a shocking incident, law enforcement personnel breaking the law themselves has surfaced as a CCTV footage captured members of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) vandalising vehicles parked alongside Trans-Asian Highway at around 2.20 am, Tuesday.
In the CCTV footage, several RAF personnel can be seen using stones and cans to damage as many as 12 four-wheelers parked along the western side of the road, while also shattering windows of houses in Yaiskul Yumnam Leikai, Imphal West.
The incident occurred when the street was empty, as confirmed by the CCTV footage. Another angle of the footage revealed some RAF personnel firing tear gas rounds into the deserted street before rushing into a nearby workshop.
The owner of the workshop claimed that the RAF personnel vandalised two vehicles, including one that was being repaired, during the incident.
While there were reports of mobs present in the street during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, there is no evidence to suggest that any properties were destroyed by the mob during that time. The CCTV footage serves as proof of this.
The local residents of the area are deeply concerned about the actions of the RAF personnel, as they are entrusted with the duty of safeguarding people and their properties, yet their behavior as captured in the CCTV footage, is in complete opposition to this responsibility.
The residents have demanded that legal action be taken against the RAF personnel in accordance with the law.
Terming the act a "barbaric and terrorising" act, former Manipur Human Rights Commission chairman Khaidem Mani, who is a resident of the area, expressed strong condemation against those RAF personnel.
He said, they are meant to safeguard the rights and properties of the public, however their action captured in the CCTV footage is the opposite.
The recent incident has raised serious concerns about the behavior and accountability of law enforcement agencies, and it calls for a thorough investigation to ensure that such acts of vandalism and misconduct are not repeated in the future, he added.
It may be mentioned that on May 27, three RAF personnel were suspended due to their alleged involvement in an attempted arson incident at a shop in the New Checkon area of Imphal East. This incident was also captured on CCTV footage.
