Another force may replace AR to guard border : CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 29 2024: Assam Rifles may be replaced by another force to guard the border in Manipur, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the State Assembly today.

The Chief Minister said this while answering a question raised by Opposition MLA K Ranjit.

"It is highly likely that another force may be sent to guard the border," said N Biren.

The CM said this as Opposition MLA K Ranjit asked what the Government feels about the Assam Rifles' inaction against Kuki militants' open display of arms in Moreh and threatening the troops.

Replying to the query, N Biren said the viral video of the incident [in which Kuki militants were seen displaying arms and threatening AR personnel] had reached the Prime Minister' and Home Minister's office, and the incident is being investigated.

A separate investigation is also being carried out by the State, he added.

"There have been allegations of the AR being biased.

There have been instances of transfer of some officers on suspicion, but accusing the entire organisation of taking side will be unfair," N Biren said, adding the Home Ministry is being given reports of accounts of suspicious activities.

"It is highly likely that a separate force may be sent to guard the border," said the Chief Minister.

N Biren said since October last year 200 companies of Central security forces have been deployed in Manipur.

The situation has improved after deployment of joint forces of State security forces and Central forces in sensitive areas, he added.

Answering to another query by MLA K Ranjit, N Biren said the State Government is targeting to construct 5000 residential houses under permanent housing scheme for displaced persons whose houses have been burnt down and damaged in the violence since May 3, 2023 .

He said the scheme, launched in November last year, is part of an effort to send back displaced people of Moreh, Churachandpur, Serou, Sugnu and other places to their original places and build houses for them.

Constructing the houses may cost around Rs 375 crore, he said.

For those whose houses have been burnt, under the scheme, a pucca house will be constructed at a cost of Rs 10 lakh while a semi-pucca and a kaccha house will cost Rs 7 lakh and Rs 5 lakh respectively.

There is also a proposal for increasing the compensation for larger pucca buildings which have been destroyed, he said.

N Biren said 139 households of Imphal East, Bishnupur, Kakching and Churachandpur (3 households) have been given 50 percent of the total amount amounting to Rs 5.6 crore for construction of houses.

Another Rs 12.6 crore is with the Deputy Commissioner of Kakching for disbursal to 472 beneficiaries of Kakching district.

The amount will be credited to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer after verification, he added.

For around 6000 houses which were damaged but not burnt, the Government is providing Rs 1 lakh each per beneficiary.

Rs 25,000 per beneficiary amounting to Rs 15 crore have been sanctioned initially.

The money has been deposited to the respective accounts of the Deputy Commissioners concerned.

The amount will be transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer, N Biren said.

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