Imphal, November 02: The two member Manipur Human Rights Committee investigation team that visited numerous villages in the interior area of Jiribam sub-division has returned to the State capital.

The MHRC team was accompanied by representatives of various civil society and student organisations.

A media team also joined the investigation visit to assess ground reality.

During the probe conducted to ascertain veracity of reports of gross human rights violation by security force personnel while launching cordon and search operations covered Butankhal near Barak river, Lamtaikhunou, Harinagar and Loukoipung all located within 22/25 kms south of Jiribam police station. Recalling circumstances leading to the rights abuse, villagers said Indian Army based at Jakuradhor were engaged in a fierce gun-fight on october 25 at an isolated area located between Vihunveng and Bhutankhal leading to the villagers living under constant fear for the rest of the day.

As expected a large column of security force arrived and started to cordon off the said villages the next morning with the search operations intensifying on October 28 and security men not even sparing women and children from hard action, the villager charged.

In addition to beating up the villagers the security personnel posed questions on whereabouts of militants demanding the villagers produce the UGs, they maintained and added that a newly married woman from Loukoipung, who delivered on October 28 evening, had to join several other villagers half an hour later in seeking safer haven.

Deflux of villagers is said to maximum the next morning.

Among the displaced persons about 40/50 are currently taking refuge at Jiribam community hall while many more crossed Barak River to stay on the Assam side.

While language problem is a major factor for the villagers feeling scared of Indian Army's presence the situation is getting complicated by each day as non-locals are now asking the sparsely populated Meitei settlements to vacate from the villages contending that they (non-locals) are the original settlers.

In addition to the ongoing operation culminating with large deflux the hardest hit are undoubtedly student community as educational had been closed down and power supply stopped allegedly due to the security agencies snapping power lines. When members of the Imphal based organisations inquired on condit ions of the displaced persons taking shelter at jiribam community hall most expressed desired of opening State police force posts close to the affected villagers.

Some meira paibis members stayed back at the relief camp to help relief committee volunteers in food distribution and further course of action.

according to Jiribam AC legislator Th Debendra, who had already donated Rs 20,000 for assistance to displaced persons staying at the relief camp, operation in-charge Brig Gossain had assured of protecting civilian property and life.

Jiribam SDPO Ishworlal asserted that a police team visited villagers where operations were launched and informed of the ongoing operation being conducted under 44 sector under Brig Gossain's command.

Security personnel involved in the said operation belong to the Garhwal Rifles, 13 Dogra Regiment, 53 Engineer Regiment, 9 Para Field Regiment said to be specially requisitioned for flush out operation and 26 Rajput Rifles, said police source.

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