In an unprecedented step towards reformative justice, Manipur Police has launched a unique initiative where dozens of youths detained during recent protests are being put to community service instead of being jailed. The approach replaces handcuffs with brooms and shovels, sending a strong message about second chances and social responsibility. The decision follows widespread unrest across valley districts since June 7, triggered by the arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan Singh and four of his associates. Singh, a dismissed head constable of Manipur Police, was taken into custody in a joint operation by the state police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He is wanted in several serious cases, including a February attack on a senior police officer’s residence, arms smuggling, drug syndicate links, and assaults on high-security installations.
The arrest led to a major outcry from supporters and sympathizers of the Arambai Tenggol group, culminating in a 10-day bandh. Roads were blocked, tyres were set ablaze, and several areas saw skirmishes between protesters and security forces. However, rather than choosing a path of retribution, the Manipur Police decided to give many of the detained protesters — mostly first-time offenders — a chance to make amends through public service. Under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the police invoked Section 4(f), which allows community service as an alternative to legal prosecution for minor, non-violent acts. This provision has now been used to engage more than three dozen young detainees in cleaning the very streets they helped obstruct. Equipped with brooms and shovels, these youths have been clearing debris, removing burnt tyres, and restoring public roads across Imphal and other valley areas. Images and videos of the clean-up effort, widely shared on social media, have drawn mixed reactions — with many hailing it as a balanced, reformative step, while others questioned its effectiveness in addressing deeper grievances.
Senior police officials stated that the initiative was carefully designed to avoid ruining the lives of “misguided youths” whose actions, though unlawful, were largely reactionary. “We wanted to ensure that a moment of anger does not turn into a lifelong burden on their records. Community service is a way to give them a stake in peace and social stability,” an official said. Meanwhile, Arambai Tenggol, the group behind the protests, called off the 10-day bandh on Tuesday but reiterated its demand for Singh’s release through “peaceful and democratic” means. The outfit distanced itself from the violent turn of events, stating that such acts were not sanctioned by its leadership.
