Source: The Sangai Express
Kolkata, September 23:
Former Army Chief General Shankar Roychoudhury today accused the Manipur Government of "ineptly handling" the situation in the State after the killing of Th Manorama Devi, saying this was tarnishing the Army's image and encouraging "vested interests" to exploit the situation.
"Mishandling of the situation by the political establishment is tarnishing the image of the Army.
The people of the State are justifiably agitated as they have been mishandled for decades.
Manipur has had a lot of money thrown into it for many years.
Where has all the money gone?" he told a press conference to give his personal views on the Manipur situation.
Pointing out that Manipur was the largest conduit of drugs originating from the 'Golden Triangle', he said that "drug money was playing a vital part in the State as it was with the Mujaheedin in Jammu and Kashmir".
"The Army is now intensifying operations in the Sajik Tampak area in southern Manipur.
The area is a nodal conduit for drug trafficking.
Since the Army presence has disrupted the drug trade, some people want the Army out," he said.
Saying that Manipur is home to Meiteis, Nagas and Kukis who had separate demands of their own, Roychoudhury, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, observed that if the State wants salvation, it should not look to Delhi or Kolkata.
Rather, the State's leaders have to come forward and see that the three sections of people live in peace, he said.
Eight bodies of helicopter crash victims identified: Eight bodies of the passengers of the Pawan Hans helicopter, which crashed yesterday near here, were identified today.