Alleging harassment, Manipur woman police officer quits

Imphal: Deputy Superintendent of Police Thounaojam Brinda has resigned, alleging her loyalty was often suspected because she was the daughter-in-law of a former insurgent leader.

Brinda said she submitted her resignation to Director General of Police L.M. Khoute on January 26, citing personal reasons.

"Instead of accepting it, the government constituted an inquiry committee to look into it. The committee has summoned me three times. I have refused to attend it since I think it is not neutral," she said.

Brinda told reporters on Monday evening that apart from harassment, she was looked at with suspicion in the department since "I am the daughter-in-law of R.K. Meghen", a former chairman of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), one of the many insurgent groups in Manipur.

Brinda passed the Manipur Public Service Commission examination in 2012 but got no appointment letter, forcing her to approach the Supreme Court.

Later, she was informed that the government suspected that classified and other sensitive information may be leaked through her to insurgents.

In 2013, the Manipur High Court ordered the state government to give her the appointment letter. She was serving in the 9 IRB Mahila Battalion when she resigned.

"There is no question of withdrawing my resignation letter," she said.

She regretted that her resignation had been linked to the confession of Thounaojam Herojit, a police head constable who admitted to killing an unarmed former militant on the orders of a senior officer in July 2009.

"I am fed up with the irregularities and the present system," Brinda added.