Kuldiep hints at Involvement of Myanmar-based militants
Aware about womenfolk raising demand for my removal: Security advisor
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 18 2024: Stating that there are intelligence report about strong possibilities of involvement of PDF and Myanmar-based armed militants in the series of attacks on state security forces and is aware about the viral audio of a police officer regarding use of war grade explosive munitions in the attack, security advisor Kuldiep Singh said that all types of weapons at the disposal of security forces will be used in fighting the Kuki militants.

Addressing a press meet at the durbar hall of the CM's secretariat here on Thursday, Kuldiep Singh said that intelligence reports suggest reinforcement from Myanmar based armed militants in the attack on police commando in Moreh town.

Earlier, the attacks were carried out from distant locations but Wednesday's attacks were carried out from close range, he said.

The security advisor also claimed that BSF and Assam Rifles supported state forces in fighting the militants.

Arms and ammunition were supplied by the central forces to the state force.

It was only after the combined response from the joint team that the Kuki militants retreated, he said.

Kuldiep maintained that several coordination meetings were held after Wednesday's attack in Moreh.

One company of BSF and two columns of Indian Army, along with four Casspir vehicles were sent from Imphal on Thursday morning and they have reached Moreh in the afternoon.

Following a request to the Ministry of Home Affairs, a helicopter was sent to Imphal on Wednesday night but there was no operation on Wednesday since it cannot land in the border town after dusk.

It was pressed into operation on Thursday 6 am and completed at least four sorties to Moreh carrying reinforcements.

IGP Kabib K was also among the security team that were flown to the border town and he is currently supervising the operation there.

Upon his arrival, a joint command centre has been set up and combined forces have started occupying key locations of Kuki militants.

Moreover.

MHA has been requested for another military transport helicopter to ferry in additional security force, he added.

The security advisor further said that the combined forces are now identifying key locations on the higher ground to deter Kuki militants, who have been carrying out the attacks from vantage points.

The joint forces are carrying out extensive area domination operation, he said.

He also acknowledged that womenfolk of the state are raising demand to remove him from the post of security advisor, withdraw Assam Rifles from the state and hand over Unified Command to the chief minister, but those are not his prerogative.

Maintaining that he has no intention of resigning from the post of security advisor, the retired IPS said that he will only resign if he has failed to perform his duty effectively.

At the same time, he has no problem if the government authority want to replace him with another person.

Responding to media, the retired IPS officer said that security has been alerted in all over the state keeping in view of the coordinated attacks and he is hopeful of controlling the immediate situation in a couple of days.

There is good coordination between state and central forces barring some isolated cases of miscommunication.

Assam Rifles and BSF personnel also retaliated in Wednesday's attack in Moreh.

All types of weapons at the disposal of both forces will be used to fight the Kuki militants, he maintained.

Regarding allegations of presence of Assam Rifles when Kuki militants attacked Meetei villages, the security advisor said that senior officers of Assam Rifles have been intimated about the accusations and public complaints.

Any erring official or personnel will be dealt with as per law, he affirmed.

When asked about the threat of attacking commandos issued by Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal and other Kuki CSOs while demanding removal of commandos from the border town, he said that intelligence officials put their best efforts to gather information and has learnt that Kuki militants in the area, with support from Myanmar based armed militants are likely to carry out fresh attacks soon.

Consequently, security forces were kept on high alert and combing operations were carried out.

As a result, the armed militants could not penetrate into the interior circle of the secured zones, said Kuldiep, who also opined that the intensified attack on state forces could be fallout of the arrest of two main suspects in the assassination of Moreh SDPO Anandkumar.

Responding to poser on his earlier statement denying involvement of PDF cadres or Myanmar based militants in the attack, Kuldiep Singh said that despite the intelligence report of strong possibilities of involvement of Myanmar based militants there were no substantial evidences to prove their involvement since nobody was arrested and he simply pointed out the technical facts.

He told media persons that the government has ordered an enquiry into the involvement of Myanmar fire service in putting out the fire in Moreh town on Wednesday.

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