Instances of mob justice and social drives are not uncommon in the state. The much glorified Meira Paibi movement is in fact based on social vigilante action over alcoholism and drug abuse in the state during the time when they were still called and known as Nishabandi. The plethora of various organizations and student bodies that describe themselves as civil society groups that sets for itself the task of social good and public service in the state adds to the growing incidences of mob justice. And while the saner but silent section of the society may have reservations over the word ‘justice’ and the way it is delivered, what is emerging clearly is that most social drives which form part of the mob justice phenomenon is based on moral codes and conduct. Matters have come to such a pass in the state today that anything and everything that a small vocal group shouts out loud is considered gospel and sacrosanct by the silent larger majority on the social level while on the legal aspect, not even bonafide agencies want to get into opposing mode or taking any legal action in response to the actions that such moral forces take up but which is not legally permissible. The lack of punishment for acts like announcing social ostracization by certain groups, dismantling houses of people that such groups deem as deserving of the action being taken on account of various social crimes, the ‘seizure of alcohol or drugs’ made by various bodies including women groups, the restaurant drives etc to mention only a few have only emboldened more and more people and assorted groups to follow the herd mentality and copy the acts of social justice by mobs. What is unfolding in the state today is a re-run of the activities taken by the Nishabandi movement in the early 80’s and 90’s which gave much a popular impetus to the women leading the social actions then. Even as most of the pioneers of social action drives have turned their attention towards issues related to human rights violations in the state, the path that they took still continue to be replicated. But when law enforcement agencies continue to only talk about mob action and various social drives but stop short of taking any legal action, it gives distressing signals.
The state has seen repeated occasions wherein groups take up what are known as restaurant drives, or sermonizing of women of ‘ill repute’, tonsuring the heads of sex workers, alcohol vendors and the like. Thankfully, the state media woke up to the fact that its coverage of such drives cannot end up stigmatizing those unfortunate enough to be at the receiving end of such actions by disclosing identities. But at one point of time, it was fairly common for the local media to publish names and at times, even the photographs of people caught during social drives. The act of arson leading to a restaurant at Hiyangthang being burnt down by volunteers of a student group on the charges that the eatery had violated earlier calls to dissuade students from entry is both unfortunate and of a serious nature. If the police fail to act on what has happened this time as in other earlier instances, no amount of talking and discussions on mob justice in police-media seminars is going to help the situation at all. The various eateries dotting the landscape in isolated places and the outskirts of Imphal can be definitely faulted for their dingy surroundings and the manner of ‘privacy’ it gives to couples but surely, setting fire is not going to be the solution at all. In the first place, the student group has no authority to go for such drives and deem eateries as legal or illegal. This comes under the purview of local municipal bodies whose duty it is to see that eateries confirm to rules and regulations of operation in matters of location, infrastructure, room lay out, cleanliness and hygiene. The other ongoing drive taken up by another student related committee that is throwing up the reality of unhygienic premises and equipments used in making ice popsicles is a grey area for there is the angle of the non migrant issue. Having said that, the hygiene factor is equally relevant but it should have been the related Government agencies taking up the task of checks and follow up action. The police needs to take due cognizance of the illegal social drives that are being passed of as being done for public good.