Imphal, November 07 2009: Development and opportunity can only prevail if there is peace and security, said GOC, 57 Mtn Div, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung, VSM at the special Army awards investiture ceremony held this morning at the Red Shield auditorium of HQ 57 Mtn Div at Leimakhong.

Five police officers of Manipur and one police officer of New Delhi were awarded the Eastern Army Commander's Commendation Card.

The Awards were handed over by the GOC, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung who presided over the solemn and dignified ceremony in the presence of senior police and Army officials.

IGP (Intelligence) of Manipur Police, LM Khoute was also present.

The officers of Manipur police who were honoured by conferring the Eastern Army Commander's Commendation Card are SP, Bishenpur district, Konsam Jayenta, Inspector, Bishenpur district police commandos, Maibam Sudhir Kumar Meitei (he was honoured with two awards), Inspector, Bishenpur district police commandos, Shougrakpam Chandrakumar, Sub-Inspector, Bishenpur district police commando, Potsangbam Sanjoy and Sub-Inspector, Bishenpur district police commandos, Bulte Lunthang Vaiphei.

The officer of Delhi Police who was also honoured on the occasion is encounter specialist of Delhi Police, Inspector Krishan Giri.

Welcoming the gathering, Maj Gen, Shakti Gurung said that for return of peaceful conditions in Manipur, the Army, Police and civil administration were closely coordinating their operations, and had thus adopted an integrited approach.

He asserted with conviction that Manipur has en abundance of natural and human resources that can easily rank it amongst the best states of India.

"However, it is tragic that this tremendous potential is being held to ransom by a few misguided elements who continue to deny development, opportunity and education, even while they themselves live in the lake of luxury abroad, and in major metro cities".

He further said, "The 21st century is an age of reconciliation and integration.

However, while the world and other states of India are rapidly developing and doubling their standards of living, the people of Manipur are still being forced to live in primitive conditions-under the shadow of guns and extortion" .

There is an urgent need for peace and opportunity to prevail, he asserted.

Regarding coordination between Manipur Police and Army, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung pointed out that troops of 57 Mtn Div and Manipur Police have over the last year or so-launched a series of deliberate and closely coordinated joint operations in and around Bishenpur district.

Operations like Loktak Vijay, Tharo Pat, Summer Storm and very recently, Thunderbolt, have precisely and surgically targeted UG camps and hideouts, the GOC said and adding that "There was zero collatoral damage, no casualties to innocent civilians or to the environment".

"Information of UG presence is being increasingly given to the police and Army by civilians who can not bear the burden of UG extortion any longer," he said.

HQ 57 Mtn Div and police have also targeted the top most UG leadership who were living with their families in absolute luxury in big metro cities of Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung said.

He reached out to the misguided youth who had been forced to join UG cadres at tender ages, and exhorted them to accept the government's excellent and honourable surrender policy.

This would give them a second chance to live a normal life with their parents and children.

He recalled the recent surrender of 13 UG cadres of various groups in Churachandpur district, besides the SPLA, and the mass surrender of the DHD (J) in south Assam.

Today's special Army awards investiture ceremony at which seven awards were conferred on six police officials from Manipur and Delhi was perhaps the first time of so many Army awards being given in a single year to a different organisation.

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