Ukhrul: The office of the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has strongly condemned in what it termed the “barbaric behavior of those senseless Manipur police personnel for intimidating death threats and using xenophobic language against Dr. Larung Mejonah, a Naga doctor, at around 9:00 PM at Konung Mamang on 24th May 2024, even after his earnest attempt to convince them that he was a doctor by producing his identity card and he was on his way back to Imphal after his duty roster.”
ANSAM, in a statement issued on Saturday, said such “mounting communal hatred and disharmony in the state by the state force who are to protect its people is very unfortunate and such hatred polarization has amplified day by day and the surge continues stronger in the midst of this prevailing situation in the state.”
ANSAM expressed its disappointment over the “uncivilized behavior from the state law-enforcing agencies themselves whose responsibility is to implement the rule of law by providing safety and security to the people.”
“The peace-loving society put our heads down in shame to witness such an intolerable incident from the law-enforcing agencies themselves. Such arrogant attitude and act of hatred intolerance from the part of the state government agency is a challenge to peace-loving society and to everyone’s rights given in the rule of law and constitution of the land. The Association appeals to the competent authority of the state to take disciplinary action against those irresponsible police personnel and suspension or termination order should be published so as to avoid any such untoward incident in the future,” the ANSAM said.
Meanwhile, the Maring Students’ Union (MSU) has also condemned the incident of May 24, terming it as “a grave and unwarranted act of police brutality committed against Dr. Larung Mejonah by the Manipur Police in Konung Mamang.”
The MSU, while condemning the action of the police at the highest level, stated that the doctor who is serving in the Manipur Health Department was “subjected to questioning that was not only unnecessary but also deeply disrespectful” when he was returning home. “The assault and threats against him are not only an attack on his person but also on the values of justice and equality that our society stands for,” MSU stated.
“In a shocking display of misconduct, the police officers involved made threats against Dr. Mejonah’s life, insinuating that because he is a tribal and posted at Moreh, his life held less value. Some personnel even went as far as to comment that all tribals are better finished off. This behavior is an egregious violation of the rights and safety of an individual, and it is particularly alarming when perpetrated by those entrusted with maintaining law and order,” the MSU statement stated.
Further, the Maring Students’ Union stated, “given the unstable nature of the law and order situation in Manipur, such actions are not only reprehensible but also indicative of a dangerous and deep-seated prejudice within certain elements of our law enforcement. It is evident that some individuals are acting out of sheer hatred towards a particular community, abandoning basic humanitarian principles.”
Demanding immediate and thorough investigation into the incident, the student body said those “police personnel involved in this heinous act must be held accountable for their actions. It is imperative that justice is served and that such incidents do not recur, undermining the trust and safety of the public.”
While applauding the contributions of Dr. Mejonah to the health and well-being of the people of Manipur, the Maring Students’ Union stated that it stands in solidarity with the victim as it calls for justice to be served swiftly and fairly.
It furthermore stated that the Manipur Police must demonstrate transparency and take swift action to discipline those responsible for this act of brutality. They should act according to the law, not beyond it, ensuring the protection of all citizens, regardless of their background or profession.
In regard to the incident, the All Naga Doctors Forum (ANDF) has also demanded the authority to suspend and book the erring Police personnel, numbering 6 to 7 involved in the case who, as per its press note on Saturday said that doctor Larung Mejonah was threatened with his life when he said he was “currently posted in Moreh.”
As per the ANDF press note, the police allegedly said, “adudi hatpabu yarene” (“then I could even kill you“), upon learning that doctor Larung Mejonah is posted as a Medical Officer in Moreh Hospital.
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