Imphal, May 7: The army has moved into Sajik Tampak, a small valley in Chandel district that was home to militants belonging to various outfits till April. The insurgents have been displaced from this strategically located valley, not far from the Indo-Myanmar border. Army troops and armoured vehicles have consolidated their positions in the zone.
A full brigade headquarters has been inaugurated at Chakpikarong in Chandel district, 87 km from Imphal. The army has made it clear that it would establish a permanent base here to control activities of militant organisations in Chandel district as well as the neighbouring districts of Thoubal and Churachandpur.
Brig. G.S. Malhi told a group of visiting Imphal-based mediapersons yesterday, “We have come here to stay.” This is being seen as an indication that the army has plans to check rebel movements and cut off supply lines through the Chakpikarong-Sajik Tampak road and other nearby routes.
Intelligence sources said militant groups have established camps on the Sajik Tampak hills along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Prior to the outbreak of the Kargil conflict, the army had had a base at Chakpikarong. Since then, there has been no army presence between Sugnu in Thoubal district and the Sajik Tampak route.
After the pullout, troops entered Sajik Tampak for the first time on the eve of polling in the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency on April 20. The troops were ambushed by guerrillas of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the military wing of the banned Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) on April 19. Four army jawans were killed. At least 600 villagers fled their homes and took shelter in nearby villages.
Official sources said the decision to establish a brigade at Chakpikarong was taken by the Union home ministry. The 9 Rajput Rifles, fresh from a bout of joint counter-insurgency training underwent along with US soldiers at Mizoram’s Vairangte Military Training School, is among the three army battalions placed under the 44 Mountain Brigade.
The army has opened at least seven checkposts along the Chakpikarong-Sajik Tampak route, a three-hour drive through harsh hilly terrain.