Imphal, May 9: The army today said it would use “minimum force” and not artillery guns or helicopter gunships in its ongoing operation at Sajik Tampak and surrounding areas of Chandel district to flush out militants. Denying media reports of use of artillery guns and helicopter gunships in the operation, a defence release today stated that the basic rule of engagement of the army in counter-insurgency operations was the “use of minimum force”.
The same principle was being applied in Chandel district. Southern Chandel had been plagued by presence of various militant groups. The army authorities felt that the situation needed to be clarified to the people in a correct perspective.
Denying reports of heavy casualty on the part of the army, the defence release stated the army suffered casualty in operations only on April 19, in which four soldiers died.
All other reports of casualty were false, aimed at tarnishing the image of the security forces.
With regard to the displacement of hundreds of villagers at Sajik Tampak since the April 19 clash, the release stated the army always ensured that they did not cause any “collateral damage”, even at the cost of their own casualty.
The deployment of the army had instilled a great sense of security in the populace, the release stated. The army also claimed that it was because of active insurgent activities in the area that 500 villagers had to move to safer places, closer to the army camps.
The militants had also confiscated their rations for their own stock, the army alleged. Due to the presence of militant groups, development projects had taken a back seat in the area.
There was no electricity in south of Sugnu, in Thoubal district, for the past three months. Even at Sugnu electricity supply had been cut off.
Water supply schemes were defunct at most places, thus denying even the basic amenities to the people. Development process had now commenced with an improved security environment, including visits by civil administrative officials.
The roads in the area were in poor condition and no repair work could be taken up for fear of the rebels. Work on some of these roads has already begun.
The BSNL had laid out optical fibre cables for telecommunication upto Chakpi Karong, in Chandel district.
The telephone exchange was not being installed due to extortion by rebels. Communications were likely to be upgraded soon.
Assam Rifles director-general Lt Gen. Bhopinder Singh paid a one-day visit to Manipur yesterday to make an on the spot assessment of the security situation in the state.
He also met governor Arvind Dave and chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.