VIP security- An Eye sore in Manipur

By B B Sharma *

Counter insurgency operation launched by security force in Manipur has made an impact on the overall law and order situation during last one year. During 2008, security forces killed 297 militants ad arrested 1703 militants belonging to various underground outfits.

Altogether 340 assorted weapons along with 5700 assorted ammunitions, 161 hand grenades and 97 lethal bombs were recovered. Besides, 187 persons were detained under National Security Act and 31 extremists of various banned outfits surrendered to the authority.

Militants Curbed:

During the year, the State police with the help of the Army and Assam Rifles checked significantly the activities of the militants particularly in the hill areas.

In the valley area also Loktak Lake, which turned into a safe heaven for the militants have been sanitised by the security forces in two successive rounds of operation. Now, the government has set up a dedicated Loktak Protection Force and the Home Ministry also requested to provide hover-craft for effective patrolling in the lake area.

In a bid to restore a lasting normalcy in the hills, the State government has signed Suspension of Operation Agreement, it is expected that the law and order situation in two Southern hill districts of Churachandpur and Chandel would improve.

The Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) Major General AK Chowdhury is of the view that "the overall violence profile in Manipur has come down in the last one year". He said people are now fed up with the senseless violence perpetrated by militants and come out openly against the extortion and abduction for ransom, which is a good sign.

Despite all this, the State Governor Mr Gurbachan Jagat expressed concern over the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur.

Addressing the Budget Session of the Manipur Assembly on 17th March, 2009, the Governor said

"it is a matter of concern that the State continues to face the challenge of insurgency and law and order problem. My government is fully committed to improving the law and order situation and through the efforts of the Manipur Police commendable results have been achieved in the counter insurgency efforts. The State police with the help of central para-military force, Army and Assam Rifles have been able to check significantly the activities of the underground in the valley areas".

This indicates that the State governments is very much concerned over the prevailing law and order situation arising out of the insurgency movement.

Congressmen Targets:

In a dramatic turn of event, two militant outfits Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) and peoples United Liberation Front (PULF) have targeted the Congress workers in retaliation against "killing their cadres in fake encounters during the ongoing counter insurgency operations".

At least four Congress workers in two valley districts of Imphal East and Bishnupur have so far been shot at the injured. They are now recuperating in the hospital, thereby increasing threat perception of the Congress workers on the eve of Lok Sabha elections.

Under such circumstances providing security to, not only Congress workers, but also all candidates have become a big challenge to the State government. Security forces have already been overstressed in providing security to VIPs in addition to the protection of vital government installations.

All the 60 MLAs of the State and high ranking government officials had been provided static security. High ranking security officials, who do not wish to be named, air a view that providing VIP security has reduced the capacity of the security forces to combat militancy in Manipur. CRPF jawans have been quite an eye sore to the people of Manipur.

But while providing effective security one and all prefer CRPF security. Likewise Assam Rifles personnel are not very much liked. But for rescue operations of victims kidnapped by militants everybody clamours for deploying Assam Rifles.

( Courtesy: Asia Defence News International )

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* B B Sharma wrote this article and was published at "Hueiyen Lanpao" Newspaper (English Edition)
This article was webcasted at e-pao.net on 14th May 2009.

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