A boon or a curse--Mobile phones in Manipur

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.

Slain Aircel driver and his vehicle had been commandeered by UGs, says family

IMPHAL, Jan 18 : The family and Joint Action Committee, JAC, formed in connection with the death of the Aircel driver, Yumlembam Shasikumar, have accepted the body of the dead man and duly performed his last rites.

Shasikumar, it may be recalled was killed in an encounter between UGs and 115 BSF at Nongda Santipur Chalou Loukon on January 14 night.

Brother of the dead man, Yambem Ibaocha said on January 14, five persons claiming to be members of the KCP arrived at their house and asked them to loan their vehicle for party use.

Even as this was going on, his brother who was a driver of Aircel arrived home after having delivered generator oil to some Aircel towers.

The five men whisked him away at gunpoint with his vehicle and asked him to drop them at Sanjenbam.

The next day his brother was discovered dead.

The JAC president L Robinchandra demanded that the concerned underground organisation should immediately clarify that Shasikumar is innocent and not associated with the party at all.

The JAC also demanded Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia from the government for the innocent driver killed, and a suitable government job for a family member of the slain man.

The JAC also appealed to both the underground organisations as well as government forces to leave innocent civilians out of the conflict.

JAC mourns on killing of Yambem Shashikumar

Imphal, Jan 17 : Compromising safety of civilians by underground elements through engaging them (civilians) in activities of armed groups came under sharp attack from the JAC formed in the aftermath of the death of Yambem Shashikumar alias Boicha (27) of Khundrakpam Awang Leikai.

Shashikumar who was among three persons killed when a shoot-out broke-out between troops of the BSF and cadres of the proscribed KCP-MC at Nongada area on January 14 night.

Speaking to newspersons in connection with the incident at the JAC's temporary office at the premises of Youth Development Organisation, Khundrakpam this afternoon JAC president L Robichandra conveyed that Shashikumar, the lone bread winner of the Yambem family, was engaged to be married next month.

He used to transport fuel to towers of private mobile service provider Aircel.

Disclosing that Shashikumar was forcibly taken away at around 8.30 pm of January 14 by about 5-6 armed persons who claimed themselves to be KC-MC cadres to transport them till Sanjenbam, the JAC functionary further stated that news of Shashikumar's demise reached the locality the next morning at around 10.30.Detailing on the first meeting a JAC team had with the Chief Minister in-charge Th Debendra yesterday, he said a memorandum with demands for payment of Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia, a suitable Government job to a member of the bereaved family and initiation of judicial probe had been submitted.

Expressing grief over the untimely demise of his fellow local, Robichandra sought clarification from the KCP organisation regarding Shashikumar's innocence.

Chipping in, JAC secretary W Gopen urged UG groups against engendering life of civilians while contending that Shashikumar was constrained to accompany the armed cadres as he was threatened with guns.

Further expressing that security forces need to exercise maximum restraint and at the least try to arrest UGs alive rather than pull the trigger, Gopen opined that such an attitude would be able to ensure safety of civilians who are caught in the vicious cycle of insurgency that had been ensnaring the citizens.

With the CM in-charge and Khundrakpam AC MLA Th Lokeshore reportedly assuring all possible assistance to the JAC delegation, Shashikumar's body was claimed and the last rites conducted this evening.