Fly back 1686 IRB recruits for safety: Families
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 14 2024:
Families of the 1,686 newly recruited 10th and 11th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel, who have completed their training at Dergaon in Assam, and are set to pass out on December 23, have submitted a memorandum to the chief minister, requesting that the recruits be flown back to Manipur instead of being transported via road.
Of the 1,920 recruits of the 10th and 11th IRB Battalions undergoing training at Dergaon, 1,686 are to be transported from Dergaon to Imphal, 142 from Dergaon to Churachandpur, and 92 from Dergaon to Kangpokpi by road under the protection of security forces.
The recruits being brought to Imphal will be transported in a convoy of 45 buses and 43 trucks, as per two arrangements made by the government.
In the first arrangement, the convoy will travel from Dergaon to Jiribam by train and then from Jiribam to Imphal by road.
In the second arrangement, the convoy will travel from Dergaon to Silchar by road and continue to Jiribam before passing through Nungba and Noney.
Previously, around 1,686 recruits were flown to Dergaon due to the conflict.
As the conflict has yet to completely subside, families of the recruits argue it would be unsafe for them to travel by road.
Consequently, the families.gathered at the chief minister's bungalow on Saturday, demanding that the recruits be flown back home instead.
However, the police dispersed the guardians from Sanjenthong area to the City Convention area.
Later, four representatives were selected and escorted to the CMs bungalow.
Although the chief minister was not present, the memorandum was submitted to the chief minister's office.
Speaking on the sidelines, one of the guardians, Heikrujam Ronibala, urged the government to understand the apprehension of the families and appealed for the recruits to be flown back instead.