No retributory action, claims AR
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 10 2015 :
Assam Rifles have claimed that they have never resorted to any retributory violence against the villagers in the aftermath of Paraolon ambush.
In a statement, PRO Hqs IGAR (S) said that there have been concerns expressed by various segments of the civilian society advising the Indian army against retributive violence.
There have also been reports that the villagers had fled the area fearing reprisals from the Assam Rifles.
Four villagers who had gone hunting unaware of the ambush were reported by the media as having gone missing due to security forces operations in the area.
This is far from the truth because there has been no retribution of any kind and these persons have already returned home safely, the statement claimed.
Hence, fears about retribution are unfounded and unnecessary, the statement said and added that the security forces are aware of their responsibilities towards the civilian population and contemplating such a course of action is against the ethos of the armed forces.
The Indian army is, and will always remain, a people's army, working ceaselessly for the safety and security of the people.
All counter insurgency operations of the army are intelligence based surgical operations which cause minimal inconvenience to the people, the statement said.
In the current operation too, inspite of severe provocation and highly agitated emotive state of the soldiers, care has been taken not to round up or trouble villagers, the statement claimed.
Saying that the operation was focused only on pursuit of the fleeing insurgents without exposing civilians to danger, the statement said that the villagers are advised to return and live peacefully.
To reinforce this spirit of friendship and to provide necessary immediate support, Assam Rifles would be organising medical camps and would also be taking other measures to ease the hardships that innocent civilians were exposed to due to gruesome acts by insurgents operating from Myanmar, the statement said.