Manipur: Intermittent firing in peripheral areas continues: Eastern Army Commander takes stock

2 BSF troopers were injured at Sugnu today in an unprovoked firing by the miscreants from the other side.

Simmering tension continues to prevail in the peripheral areas of Kakching and Churachandpur districts as well as the Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts, prompting the Army as well as other security forces to step up its vigil and thwart the heavy firing.

Intermittent firing between security forces and armed men has continued nearly for a week now with no signs of any let up in the situation.

GOC-in-C Eastern Command Lt General RC Tiwari himself is monitoring the situation from ground zero and devising strategies for handling it.

A day after his visit to border town Moreh and Beheng in Churachandpur, the Eastern Command GOC-in-C today visited Pukhao Santipur village in Imphal East where cross firing has reportedly continued for the last 6 days.

After reaching, Lt General RC Tiwari took stock of the situation and held deliberations with army officials as well as officers of other security forces posted in the strategic areas. On behalf of the people in the Pukhao Santipur village, Commander of the 18 Assam Rifles apprised the GOC-in-C about the issues faced by the general public.

On the other hand, the situation remains to be tense near Sugnu village in Kakching district after 2 BSF troopers were injured in an unprovoked firing by the miscreants from the other side.

Heavy cross firing was reported from the peripheral areas of Kakching and Churachandpur districts near Sugnu village since late night.

Exchange of fire erupted at three different places in the peripheral areas of Imphal East and Kangpokpi namely Pukhao Shantipur Village, Khamenlok and peripheral areas of Kakching and Churachandpur districts near Sugnu Village.

As per inputs, several bombs went off and exchange of gunfire erupted around 9:30 pm last night between armed men from the hills and the valley.

Inputs suggest that Inspector General Assam Rifles South Rav Roop Singh along with Commandants of various battalions of Assam Rifles are being deployed in and around the area of Pukhao, Shantipur and various other places which are peripheral to Imphal East and Kangpokpi district.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗢𝗖-𝗶𝗻-𝗖’𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁?

On February 15, a 300-400 strong mob attacked the Churachandpur SP office forcing the police and RAF to retaliate. Vehicles parked inside the mini secretariat complex were torched by the irate mob while some even resorted to ransacking and vandalism at the SP and DC Office.

Two people were killed and over 40 were injured.

On February 13, a mob attacked the 5th India Reserve Battalion post and looted a huge cache of arms and ammunition. The following day, 6 persons were arrested by the Manipur Police.

February 13- Reports of firing in as many as 5 Locations. Sugnu in Kakching came under fire since early morning. Heavy firing was also reported from Pukhao Shantipur, Kadangband and Sanasabi under Imphal East and Khamenlok and Koutruk at Imphal West. As per inputs the Pukhao Shantipur village is at the centre of the gun battle where a village volunteer reportedly succumbed to his injuries.

February 13- Owing to heavy firing in Khamenlok and Pukhao Santipur in Imphal East district, between armed miscreants one person died and three other sustained injuries.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗢𝗖’𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗴?

During his visit Lt Gen RC Tiwari reviewed the security situation in the state with special emphasis on Moreh in Tengnoupal district and Beheng in Churachandpur district.

The Eastern Command in a tweet had mentioned, “Lt Gen RC Tiwari #ArmyCdrEC visited Moreh and Beheng in Tengnoupal & #Churachandpur districts along the Indo Myanmar Border to review the security situation in #Manipur today. Complimenting all ranks for their high standards of motivation and professionalism, he also interacted with members of Civil Society Organisations and urged them to work towards maintaining peace and harmony.”

#IndianArmy
Lt Gen RC Tiwari #ArmyCdrEC visited Moreh and Beheng in Tengnoupal & #Churachandpur districts along the Indo Myanmar Border to review the security situation in #Manipur today. Complimenting all ranks for their high standards of motivation and professionalism, he… pic.twitter.com/PcOaoFAiCG

— EasternCommand_IA (@easterncomd) February 16, 2024

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗢𝗖’𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁:

The Eastern Command GOC-in-C’s visit assumes significance since there has been a demand for removal of state forces from certain areas especially in hill districts and replacing it with central forces.

However, on January 21, Manipur CM N Biren Singh had informed that his government has urged the Centre to deploy ‘neutral central forces’ in the state.

CM N Biren Singh had said, “We are requesting the central government to replace those central forces who are taking sides with neutral forces so that life and innocent people can be protected.

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀:

Manipur towards the end of last year had witnessed a series of attacks on security forces thus creating more challenges for the government to bring peace in the state. On December 31, in a strongly worded message, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had termed the attacks on security personnel in the state as a grave threat to the national security.

CM N Biren Singh also highlighted the fact that the security forces must urgently come up with a more robust approach to deal with such anti-social elements.

COMMENTS