Shame on the Delhi Police

In a Peace March organised by the Kuki Students Organisation Delhi hundreds of students from the North Eastern states have been injured and locked up in the Tihar Jail.

The rally was called over the alleged kidnapping of villagers by the Burmese army and the UNLF separatists who allegedly enjoy the patronisation of the Burmese Military Junta. The Junta is said to turn a blind eye over the activities and is sometimes a willing partner in the unlawful and seditious activities of the said organisation, due to its supposed understanding with the Chinese govt and its army.

The Indian Government meanwhile is silent over the issue and the Delhi Police has registered cases against the students who had turned out in thousands to mark the protest against the kidnapping of villagers in Laijang village. The cases range from theft, manslaughter, destruction of public property and what not.

Newsmedia such as the Sangai Express however seem to contradict the fact of the kidnapping. The newspapers in Manipur however are not known to rise above their community loyalty.

In a democracy like India, citizens have that channel of expressing their grievances in public. They do not commit a crime by going on a peace march. If a march or a protest turns violent it has something to do with the response of the political class of the country. The men in khaki on the streets of Delhi is also to blame for its known history of prejudice against people from the North East. And the pelting of stone and the tussle would not have arisen for no reason.

As students, these mulititude of youngsters have so much to lose. Apart from the scars of police brutality, they are going to end up having criminal records and their scopes of having legitimate professions later will be ruined. Meanwhile no politician of repute of the community has been heard to condemn the violence nor extend support or work for the release of the students detained long after the march is over.

The Police, in no way should have gotten violent. Be it a march in the heart of Delhi or Nandigram the police are there to ensure civic peace is not disturbed and not indulge in retribution of the kind we often see in India. An injured policeman is no justification for the severity and brutality on the students.