Imphal, July 14: Manipur police are taking time off from combating militants to do some moral policing. As many as 20 couples were rounded up recently during raids on sleazy restaurants that rent out dimly lit cabins to people seeking privacy. One of the couples, Robin Singh of Imphal East and Romila Devi (not their real names) from Bishenpur, will tie the knot the next week.
Robin and Romila spent a night in the police lock-up along with the other couples before they were handed over to their parents and guardians. The wedding was hastily finalised to perhaps prevent the duo from eloping, which is rampant in Manipur.
The raids were led by Imphal West superintendent of police S. Ibocha Singh, who is working on a thesis on ?community policing?.
Apart from the amorous couples, the police arrested several restaurant owners and managers on charges of encouraging immoral activities. Most of these restaurants provide privacy to young couples at a price. Some of the cabins have cots, which are rented out by the hour.
Ibocha Singh?s concern over the degeneration of youths, some barely out of their teens, was echoed by the Manipur Human Rights Commission while registering a case against a youth accused of raping his girlfriend inside one such restaurant.
The victim, who is a resident of Imphal East, said her boyfriend lured her to a restaurant at Lilong, under Singjamei police station, last month. The accused is in judicial custody.The police campaign against immoral activity in restaurants has since been extended to the neighbouring district of Bishenpur.
The superintendent of police summoned about 150 restaurant owners recently and warned them of stringent punishment if they continued to illegally rent out cabins.
Ibocha Singh said a restaurant owner earns upto Rs 15,000 daily, which explains why most of them are not amused by the police crackdown. Some have even downed shutters in protest against the raids.
The police are also targeting commercial sex workers, especially those in the state capital. Sources said more and more women from poor families, including widows, were taking to prostitution.
These women are being rounded up routinely and counselled with the assistance of non-government organisations. The incidence of HIV/AIDS in Manipur is the highest in the Northeast.