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n this Independence Day, Manipur Police created a record by winning 74 out of 212 President’s Police Medals for Gallantry, the maximum decorations received by any individual state. While it should have been a matter of pride for those in the state, the human rights activists in the state are crying foul saying it only encourages State-sponsored terrorism as most of the medals were given for encounters. We have this special report…When Manipur Police bagged the maximum number of Police Medals for Gallantry on Independence Day this year, it should have been a matter of great pride for Manipur. Contrary to this, protest like this is an embarrassment for the state police force, actively campaigning to fight militancy. Since January 2009, it has neutralized over 225 suspected militants in encounters. Out of the 212 Police Medals for Gallantry announced for the entire country, Manipur Police bagged 74 Medals and most them were given for bravery while executing encounters. Ironically, this happens to be just the opposite of what the Union Home Secretary understands of how the Gallantry Awards are given. Although Union Home Secretary seemed unaware that most of the Gallantry Medals that Manipur Police got were for encounters duties, human rights activists are of the firm opinion that such awards encouraged state-sponsored terrorism. It was barely a month ago that a pregnant woman and a former rebel were killed in a fake encounter by the police commandos. Arguing that the killing would have been another Gallantry Award winning encounter had it not been for the photographic evidence that exposed it as a fake encounter, protestors sought a stop to the alleged policy of killing innocent lives for Gallantry Awards. It is indeed very unfortunate that an award given for bravery and sincerity while discharging police duties is at the centre of controversy with people charging the Manipur Police of killing innocent lives in fake encounters for medals. With cameraperson Chungkham Subhas, B. Sunzu reporting from Imphal.
n this Independence Day, Manipur Police created a record by winning 74 out of 212 President’s Police Medals for Gallantry, the maximum decorations received by any individual state. While it should have been a matter of pride for those in the state, the human rights activists in the state are crying foul saying it only encourages State-sponsored terrorism as most of the medals were given for encounters. We have this special report…When Manipur Police bagged the maximum number of Police Medals for Gallantry on Independence Day this year, it should have been a matter of great pride for Manipur. Contrary to this, protest like this is an embarrassment for the state police force, actively campaigning to fight militancy. Since January 2009, it has neutralized over 225 suspected militants in encounters. Out of the 212 Police Medals for Gallantry announced for the entire country, Manipur Police bagged 74 Medals and most them were given for bravery while executing encounters. Ironically, this happens to be just the opposite of what the Union Home Secretary understands of how the Gallantry Awards are given. Although Union Home Secretary seemed unaware that most of the Gallantry Medals that Manipur Police got were for encounters duties, human rights activists are of the firm opinion that such awards encouraged state-sponsored terrorism. It was barely a month ago that a pregnant woman and a former rebel were killed in a fake encounter by the police commandos. Arguing that the killing would have been another Gallantry Award winning encounter had it not been for the photographic evidence that exposed it as a fake encounter, protestors sought a stop to the alleged policy of killing innocent lives for Gallantry Awards. It is indeed very unfortunate that an award given for bravery and sincerity while discharging police duties is at the centre of controversy with people charging the Manipur Police of killing innocent lives in fake encounters for medals. With cameraperson Chungkham Subhas, B. Sunzu reporting from Imphal.
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