New Samtal under its belt
SF confident 'MPA will not be able to return'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 15:1,542.28 With the security forces finally taking New Samtal on the Indo-Myanmar border under their belt, Commander of 26 Sector Assam Rifles under the IG Assam Rifles South, Brigadier Raymond Noronha struck a confident pose and made it more than clear that their job is not only about clearing the villages, but making sure that the MPA cadres of the UNLF do not return again.

Speaking to a group of media persons at New Samtal on January 14, Brigadier Noronha said that New Samtal was taken under their control on January 9 and added, 'They will not be able to come back."

Sector Commander of 26 SAssam Rifles Brigadier Noronha briefing media persons at New Samtal and soldiers clicking villagers

Lajang, which is located only a few kilometres away from New Samtal, just on the border with Myanmar was also taken over on January 10, said the Sector Commander and added that the camp at Lajang was under the command of S/S Lt Col Pathou of the MPA.

The media persons were however advised not to proceed to Lajang, as "a number of IEDs have been planted by the fleeing MPA cadres".

Even now the villagers have been appealing to us to clear their villages of the IEDs, said Noronha.

The Khengjoi-Samtal range has been under the 'control' of the UNLF for about the last ten years and even as late as May 2006, the last SF post along this side was at Hengshi where the Assam Rifles had set up an out post.

Hengshi is can be reached after a 50 minute drive from Joupi, where the Assam Rifles still has a battalion headquarters.

The offensive against the MPA cadres who had held sway over New Samtal and Lajang was led by the 10 JKLI, said Brigadier Noronha, during the brief interaction with the media at New Samtal.

10 JKLI is headed by Colonel Debashis Das, but interestingly the CO was not present at the media briefing as he was away at New Delhi.

Obviously pleased at securing New Samtal under its belt, Brig raymond Noronha said, "As we had promised earlier we have captured New Samtal.

We could have done it earlier, but decided to halt our operations due to the festival season, Christmas and New Year".

Quoting line from Ratan Tata, Noronha said, "A promise is a promise".

The Sector Commander further said that Chief Minister O Ibobi has assured the IG AR (South) Maj General BK Chengappa that development works including road connectivity will be taken up by the State Government at the soonest possible.

The district administration has also been in touch with the security forces, said Noronha and added that the DC of Chandel had called him up to inquire about the progress of the operations.

"A police team will becoming here tomorrow (January 15)" he informed.

Re-establishment of police posts at Khengjoi, Samtal Salient and Molcham etc is also under serious consideration, he said.

One SF post will also be opened here , said the Brigadier further.

The Army officer claimed that the MPA cadres have fled to Myanmar but added, "Myanmar Army is with us." He however declined to give details.

Interacting with the media team, chairman of New Samtal village, Chungkhoyam Haokip (68) said that many villagers have fled to neighbouring Myanmar fearing clashes between the security force and MPA cadres.

"When the MPA cadres were here, only a few of them actually stayed at the village, while the rest stayed at the nearby jungles," informed the chairman.

"We faced no harassments from the militants and in the absence of any Government agencies, they helped us with medicines, food etc.

Our Government was the MPA for ten years, since the State Government had failed to look into our needs," declared the chairman.

To questions from the media persons, Haokip said, "We depend on Myanmar for everything.

We trade with Myanmar and the nearest trading centre on the other side of the border is Bokan.

For medical treatment we have to go to Khampat in Myanmar".

The security forces do not harass us in any way, he said and added that they have promised to help the villagers.

Though New Samtal has been taken over by the security forces, many are yet to return till date.

The villagers started fleeing in 2001 after a clash started between the MPA and the KNA, said the chairman and added that the latest exodus was after the operation was launched in November last year.

Haokip said that so far three villagers have died in IED blasts.

The first victim was Lunkang Manchung, who died in 1999 after an IED blast, he said and added that the Government has paid compensation for his death.

The second incident happened in 2001 when a minor girl of 12 succumbed to her injuries sustained in an IED blast.

The victim is identified as Chinhoihem Touthang.

Again in 2005 a 45 year old man Yampithang Haokip was killed in an IED blast in the jungle, said the chairman.

The skeletal remains was retrieved only after 5/6 months, he recalled. The Government has not paid compensation for the two latter deaths, he informed.

The MPA did instruct us not to venture towards Lajang and towards the direction of the BSF post, which is on the northern side, added the chairman.