Imphal, May 06: Strongly reacting to the reported statement of the DGP that the Special Police Officers (SPOs) being recruited at Heirok will be used in counter insurgency operations, the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Th Promila, L Nirmala, Th Romesh and Serious Injuring of W Rebika has decried the alleged 'hidden agenda' of the State Government.

A statement issued by the JAC, while reiterating that its demands for weapons was meant for only self-defence, decried the statement of the DGP which unfortunately implied that the Heirok people would be taking on UG cadres.

The reported statement of the DGP that SPOs will be used in counter insurgency operations and that they may be used in other places too only reinforced the false perception of the people of Manipur towards Heirok people, it said.

The alleged plan of the State Government to use SPOs in counter insurgency operations after training for just one month while the combined strength of wellarmed and well-trained police, IRB, army and para-military forces is still unable to subdue the insurgency movement only amounts to using Heirok people as human shields in counter insurgency operations, inferred the JAC.

Observing that SPOs are not entitled to ex-gratia or pension except for the token honorarium of Rs 3000 per month, the JAC maintained that Heirok people cannot accept the State's plan to use SPOs in counter insurgency operations or deployment outside Heirok.

It further noted that the State's plan has only exacerbated the risk of the Heirok people rather than ensuring security.

The Cabinet has not yet adopted any concrete decision on the JAC's demands for provision of mikes, solar lamps, PDS items and treatment of W Rebika who is still unable to recover her eye sight, it lamented.

Even as the Government has failed to fulfil its assurance of providing jobs to the families of the victims, the people of Heirok are caught in a dilemma following strong pressure from different organisations of the State not to accept guns from the Government.

The failure of the State Government to formulate a definite policy for Heirok has also presented the JAC and the Heirok people in wrong light in front of the people of Manipur, it decried.

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