Senior citizens urge Govt to strengthen security in Moreh
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 22 2024: Days after scores of attacks killed and injured several cops in Moreh, the Senior Citizens Club has written to the Chief Minister urging the Government to strengthen State forces' presence in the town bordering Myanmar.

The representation, a copy of which was also sent to the Governor, said Moreh is crucial for geopolitical interests of India in South East Asia and its stability is key to the success of the Nation's Act East Policy.

Moreh is not only an important place for Manipur State but also a very important location Nationally in terms of strategic and economic interests.

The presence of security forces in Moreh should be enhanced to bring stability, said the Senior Citizens Club, making several suggestions to the Government.

Firstly, future recurrence of violence cannot be ruled out and sending troops entails elaborate administrative as well as operational arrangements.

As such, a substantial number of troops capable of sustaining itself should be sent.

A sizable strength will negate the necessity of sending reinforcements time and again, said the Senior Citizens Club.

Secondly, one battalion of the State's Armed Police should be deployed at Moreh.

In the long run it can ease the onerous responsibility and task the Government has entrusted on the police, police commandos in particular, it said.

Thirdly, as the police is stretched to the limit, a tremendous pressure is bound to be on its manpower, said the Senior Citizens Club, suggesting ways to beef up the paucity of manpower.

Security guards of dignitaries including Ministers and MLAs except that of the CM may be reduced.

Manpower details of bureaucrats, political activists, ex-MLAs may be either withdrawn or minimized, it said.

The Senior Citizens Club further suggested that a manpower audit may be carried out and personnel who are staying at home unauthorized may be called to duty immediately.

"It is believed that a substantial number of police personnel are not attending duties in connivance with their superiors.

Such kind of dereliction of duties at such times is criminal," it said.

It continued that the Traffic Police personnel may also be combatised as they have undergone the same basic training as their ground duty counterparts.

Police manpower can also be culled by temporarily employing the Traffic Police personnel on general duties.

The Senior Citizens Club stressed that a review of weapon authorization of police may be carried out, and as a special case, area weapons such as Automatic Grenade Launchers, Rocket Launchers, MMGs (Medium Machine Guns) may be authorised and provided to the police.

It urged the Government to take appropriate actions to make the Central Security Forces presently deployed in the State more proactive.

Kuki militants' attacks on security forces in Moreh since May 3, 2023 has killed at least 3 cops and injured more than 18 personnel.

Comment