Imphal, May 11 : Recent reports of the misuse of mobile phones by certain individuals or groups in the state of Manipur have left certain questions to be answered as to whether the mobile phones are a boon or a curse in the state. Certain features such as being ‘mobile’, handy and available almost ‘24x7’, a larger majority of the people would feel the boon. However, a critical analysis and study into recent reports of mobile phones being misused could speak otherwise.
Mobile phones made its first appearance in the state in 2004 with the launch of BSNL services by the centre. Since then many private cell phone companies like AIRCEL, AIRTEL, Reliance and the recently Tata Indicom and Vodafone have made its way into the state thus providing more choices to the users.
However, the use of SIMs under fictitious names has been a concern for security in the state with the increasing number of mobile phone related crimes and extortions.
However, the misuse of mobile phones came to its peak in the second half of 2008 when a series of monetary demands and threats were made through the mobile phones in the state to various individuals and officials including organisations and institutions.
The headmistress of Don Bosco School, Langjing in Imphal West revealed to the media that she had received monetary demands and threats through an SMS and this demand eventually led to the closure of three Don Bosco Schools of Langjing and Pheiyeng in Imphal West and Don Bosco of Chingmeirong, Imphal East.
They were however re-opened few days later having come to a negotiation with civil societies.
Following such incidents, city police under the Home department of the state began to hunt for “Black SIM” as a security measure and in a span of about two days captured over 200 such SIM cards.
As per reports, a state police officer informed this drive was launched after the police found out that individuals had bought the BSNL and other private company SIM cards and then sold them in black to other, adding this was a cause of concern for the security of the state.
L. Kailun, Senior Superintendent Imphal West district police was also reported to have informed that the high number of SIM cards in black was the main problem leading to the problem of insurgency control in the state.
“The SIM cards in black were leading to the problems of insurgency control. So we came up with this policy of collecting mobile phones,” the reports quoted the SP as saying.
This drive was further fuelled by the recovery of 18 (eighteen) mobiles from the militants under trial at the Sajiwa jail in Imphal East in October last which one could perhaps termed as a prove of the various allegations that mobiles were being use to threaten and extort money from the government officials and the general public alike.
Th. Radheshyam, the Superintendent of Imphal East district police is reported to have informed the media the raid began on October 10 and in a span of just about two days collected 18 mobile phones from the various under trial militant inmates in the jail.
Most of these militants belonged to the various state based outfits such of the Kangleipak Communist Party-Military Council (KCP-MC), Kuki Revolutionary Army-United (KRA-U) and People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) involved in extortions and monetary demands and that they were conducting their programmes through the phones from the jail, stated reports as per information deliver by the Imphal East SP.
And with the recovery of the mobiles from the militant inmates of the Sajiwa jail, speculations spread that threats, extortions and demands through the mobile would decrease.
However, the misuse of mobile phones emerged in the early part of 2009 when state based militant outfit apprehended few couples for recording their ‘immoral acts’ and circulating it through the phones.
Following this initiative, civil societies and local bodies began to keep an eye on such acts especially amongst the youth.
Reports had it locals in Imphal West district torn down a house which was allegedly rent out for ‘immoral act’ where couple recorded such deeds. This falls in great contrast to the moral value that the state observes.
No doubt, the mobile phone has all the requisites for a good entertainment viz. the MP3 players, video recording and playbacks, cameras and Bluetooth for easy transfer of files between mobiles. One cannot leave behind the availability in times of emergency and keeping in contact with near and dear ones, near and far.
However, the recent reports of the misuse of the mobile phone have raised few questions if it is boon or a curse to the state.
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