Imphal, Dec. 18: The Manipur government is mounting pressure on the Assam Rifles to vacate the historical Kangla Fort, which it has been occupying for several decades now.
Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh said at a meeting of the security coordination committee here on Monday that the paramilitary force should shift to a new campus as soon as possible. Works minister Gaikhangam, industry minister Th. Devendra Singh, chief secretary A.P. Sharma and senior officials of the Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF and the police attended the meeting.
The new campus of the Assam Rifles, located at Maha Koireng, is nearing completion. Almost all office buildings and residential quarters are being given the final touches.
A combined team of the state works department and the Assam Rifles will next week inspect the progress of work at Maha Koireng. The decision to conduct an inspection was taken at the meeting of the security coordination committee.
An official source said the government wanted the campus to be readied for the Assam Rifles in a month?s time.
The people of Manipur have long been demanding that the Assam Rifles vacate the Kangla Fort. The government had provided a place at Luwangsangbam, on the outskirts of Imphal, to the Assam Rifles. However, instead of leaving Kangla for good, the paramilitary force merely replaced one battalion with another.
A ceremonial farewell had been organised in the early nineties, but the Assam Rifles stayed put. The then chief minister, R.K. Dorendra Singh, and Union minister of state for home M.M. Jacob had attended the ceremony.
To the Manipuri community, the occupation of Kangla Fort by the Assam Rifles is tantamount to usurping the legacy of their kings. The first monarch of the Meiteis, Nongada Lairen Pakhangba, had ascended the throne at that very fort. The British had captured the fort during the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.