IMPHAL, May 11 – Southern Chandel bordering Myanmar has been plagued by the presence of various insurgent groups which were indulging in anti-national activities which are inimical to both the local population as well as the State. The Army authorities feel that the recent report on Army operation in Chandel district needs to be conveyed to the people in a correct perspective.
Reports of Army likely to use artillery guns and helicopter gun- ships in the operation in Sajik Tampak are incorrect, PIB (Defence wing) source said here. The Army authorities clarified that the basic rules of engagement for the Army in Counter Insurgency operations is the ‘Use of Minimum Force’, which is practiced in letter and spirit even at the risk to the life of soldiers and the same principle has been applied while dominating the area in Chandel.
There has been a number of fabricated reports of heavy casualty to the Army, it said adding that it has been clarified many a times that the Army has suffered casualty in operations only on April 19 , in which four valiant soldiers laid down their lives. All other reports of casualty are false and have been projected to create a hyped up situation and tarnish the image of the SF.
Meanwhile, the reports of displacement of a large number of villagers from villages South of Sajik Tampak also seem to indicate that the Army is responsible for their displacement. However, the truth is that Army always ensures that they do not cause any collateral damage even at the cost own casualty. In fact, the deployment of the Army has instilled a great sense of security in the populace who had been oppressed and terrorized by a large number of insurgents belonging to various UG organizations.
It is because of active insurgent activities in the area that approximately 500 villagers had to move to safer places close to the Army deployment. The Army authorities further claims that the insurgents had also confiscated their rations for own stocking. Due to terror spread by the insurgent groups, the development projects have taken a back seat in the area. There is no electricity south of Sugnu for last three months.
Even at Sugnu electricity has been cut down. Water supply schemes are defunct at most places, thus denying even the basic amenities to the people, which the State has planned for them, said the Army authorities. The development process has now commenced with an improved security environment including visits by Civil Administrative officials, it added. The roads in the area are in a poor condition and they were not being improved due to fear of the insurgents. Work on some of these road has already commenced. BSNL has laid out optical fiber cables for telecommunication up Chakpi Karong.
The Army authorities have also said that the telephone exchange was not being installed due to extortion money demanded by the insurgents. Communications are likely to be upgraded soon, defence sources felt. The Army authorities have further said, it is pertinent that the social evils of insurgency and terrorism be highlighted through mass media as the operational aspects by the Army in Sajik Tampak are being conducted in consonance with well thought out and defined principles of counter insurgency.