IMPHAL: A sub-inspector of Manipur police has been placed under suspension for assaulting a local TV reporter in broad daylight during a protest rally in Imphal on August 1.
The suspended officer has been identified as sub-inspector Nikhil Singh of Imphal East Commandos.
The officer was caught on camera beating Rameshchandra Mangang while the journalist was covering a protest rally of IDPs at Akampat in Imphal.
Following massive public outrage and widespread condemnation, the Imphal East District Superintendent of Police, K. Meghachandra Singh, issued a notification on Saturday suspending the officer.
“A disciplinary proceeding is being contemplated against SI Sh Nikhil Singh for his grave misconduct which is not expected from a member of a disciplined force like the Police Department,” the order stated.
The suspension will remain effective until further order, the SP said.
The order further said that the headquarters of the suspended police officer will be Reserve Line, Porompat and he will not leave his headquarters without obtaining prior information from the Imphal East SP.
As per the order, he will be entitled to a subsistence allowance as admissible under the rules during the period of his suspension.
The incident sparked outrage among journalists and civil society groups. The All Manipur Working Journalist’s Union and Editors’ Guild Manipur strongly condemned the assault and demanded the officer’s immediate termination.
