| The Commission says such an exercise should be carried out only in enclosures |
In an order passed on Thursday, chairperson of the commission Chongtham Jamini said the commission took a serious view of the telltale photographs in a section of local newspapers taken during a mass frisking in Imphal. She said that although the law permitted the police to make such checking, the actual frisking should be done in enclosures and not in full public view. An advocate, Rebecca Lourembam, had lodged a complaint quoting the reports and enclosed the photographs and prayed for necessary intervention for the protection of women’s privacy and dignity. The report said that the women and girls were humiliated while some men on the other side of the frisking line had jeered at the traumatised women. State Home Minister Okram Ibobi, who is also the Chief Minister, and Mr. Yumnam Joykumar have not made any comment on this issue.
Surprise frisking of men and women who happen to be in the city for shopping is a common practice for the Imphal West district police. Meanwhile, a number of women’s organisations have condemned the actions of the policewomen and the higher-ups who had failed to supervise the women constables.
Activity suspended Following the scathing reaction from the people and the directives issued by the Commission for Women, the police have suspended such frisking in the city areas.