Manipur not to implement POTA: Okram Ibobi

Imphal, April 19: The chief minister O Ibobi Singh has reaffirmed that his Secular Progressive Front ministry will never implement Prevention of Terrorist Act, POTA in the state. The chief minister during a short interview this evening at his official bungalow said that even though Parliament has passed POTA, his ministry will not accept this act, as the existing acts and laws are quite sufficient for facing insurgency at present. He said, the forthcoming cabinet meeting which is going to be convened on April 24 next will take a decision to nullify the process taken up for implementation of POTA in the state. Related files for the implementation process have been referred to concerned law minister and departments to halt further advance into the implementation process, he said. In the meantime, state director general of police AA Sidiqqui during an exclusive interview with a local TV network has said that so far there is no official instruction from the state government for stopping the process of implementing POTA. He said that as per the instructions issued by the earlier government, the necessary process which are required for the police department for the implementation of POTA has been already taken up. Apart from this, he stated, at present the police department is in a position to impart knowledge on POTA to each and every police officer for adequate implementation and utilization of the act if the case happens to arise in the state. Instructions have been given to every district SP in this regard, he said. It is worthwhile mentioning that even after an open declaration by the chief minister that POTA will not be implemented in the state, due to the lack of formal initiative of the present government for halting the process taken up for POTA implementation, the public still has the apprehension that POTA will be implemented as all preparations and necessary procedures like establishment of special courts and appointment of public prosecutors have already been completed in the state.