Manipur Police Use Brooms, Not Bars, in Unique Protest Management Strategy

Imphal, In a surprising strategy, the Manipur Police in northeastern India has exchanged handcuffs for brooms and shovels by initiating a "community service" programme for a number of young people detained in different places throughout the valley who, at the time of detention, were participating in violent protests since June 7, 2023.

This follows the dissent and unrest we saw on the streets as the protests were incited by the arrest of prominent Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan Singh and four associates during a joint operation of Manipur Police and CBI, as he was wanted in different cases. During the protests the people were calling for the unconditional release of Singh and others, leading to a 10-day bandh called by the Arambai Tenggol association. The bandh ended on Tuesday.

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Taken away in custody, instead of being arrested with formal charges, and a mark on their futures, these over three dozen young people were handed tools for community service and were in the streets not rioting, but cleaning.

Taking advantage of provisions of the new Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, the Manipur Police gave the young people tools of civic duty, brooms and shovels, to clear the roadblocks and burnt tires and the concrete debris they or others had placed there during the protests.

This choice was not the result of naivete or misunderstanding, police officials said, but rather, because they wanted to protect the future careers of these "misguided youths."

By invoking Section 4 of the BNSS, which provides for community service for first-time offenders in minor offences, authorities are providing an opportunity for rehabilitation rather than chastisement.

Videos and photographs shared widely depict these young people in custody scrubbing the roads and removing the debris from the three-day protest, creating a potent image of justice combined with a hint of civic duty.

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The disorder that preceded this unusual method of policing was extensive.

After the arrest of Singh, a dismissed head constable of Manipur Police, on June 7, community unrest was ignited across multiple valley districts.

Singh is implicated in several cases, including the armed attack on the residence of Additional Superintendent of Police Moirangthem Amit on February 27, 2024, perpetrated by armed members of Arambai Tenggol.

Investigations are ongoing into his connections to the drug mafia, vandalism at the office of the Deputy Inspector General and Inspector General , attack on the 1st Manipur Rifles, and arms smuggling.

The Arambai Tengol outfit, on Tuesday, announced that it was ending its 10-day strike call but continuing their peaceful and democratic manner demands for the release of Singh and took an approach to distance itself from any violence happening on the streets of the outfit in their name.

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