What is it like to live under relentless surveillance? What is it like to be one of the few parts of the country where the security forces arguably have unlimited power? What is it exactly like to grow up and continue living under the shadow of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)?
A Manipuri woman chronicled the trials of living in a state where the armed forces have unbridled power in a series of alarming tweets. If true, the tweets underscore the need to actively reconsider the institution of AFSPA in parts of the country.
In a series of tweets, Swar Thounaojam, shares the ordeal her sister allegedly has to face every day in hands of the CRPF personnel posted in the vicinity of her shop. And it's not just her business that suffers, the entire string of shops in the area has faced the heat from CRPF, she alleges.
She wrote, "My youngest sister runs a shop alone in one of the main markets in Imphal. Let me tell you how CRPF personnel harass her everyday. "
My youngest sister runs a shop alone in one of the main markets in Imphal. Let me tell you how CRPF personnel harass her everyday.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
When her sister opens her shop early morning, she is questioned by the personnel.
She opens her shop at 5.30/6am. And everyday as she pulls up the shutter, CRPF personnel come & question her as to why she opens it early.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
Thounaojam alleges that the CRPF jawans stare at her the whole day and ask her questions under the pretext of "interrogation".
Then they will pointedly stand right across her shop whole day & stare at her or keep coming into her shop for random interrogation.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
And they create a ruckus when she resists to cooperate.
She is polite but refuses to entertain their pointless interrogation; so they kick the dustbins of her shop and litter her space everyday.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
Thounaojam further adds, "they say they are checking for bombs but ofc it's harassment."
This kicking dustbins and littering is a new thing CRPF have started; they say they are checking for bombs but ofc it's harrassment.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
And whenever a vehicle slows down in the shop lane, arguments break out.
Whenever a bike or vehicle slows down in the shop lane, the CRPF will make a racket with their whistlings. Huge arguments break out.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
Her business as well as the business of many shopkeepers are suffering b/c the CRPF wouldn't allow customers to be on the footpaths.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
The CRPF personnel are posted at the state Governor's residence for security and how they have allegedly keep harassing her sister and other shopkeepers in that area.
There was a public rally today in Imphal, demanding the governor to vacate the bungalow. The CRPF are the governor's area security.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
She concludes saying, "One of Imphal's biggest markets is behind the Governor's bungalow and the CRPF have been increasingly harassing the people around."
One of Imphal's biggest markets is behind the Governor's bungalow and the CRPF have been increasingly harassing the people around.
— Swar Thounaojam (@liklasa) October 11, 2016
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