State requests, MHA sends IAF chopper
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 17 2024:
Following the state government's request to send a helicopter to meet emergency need in the volatile situation in Moreh, the ministry of home affairs has sent a helicopter of the Indian Air Force, which landed in Imphal Airport on Wednesday night.
The government of Manipur had requested the Ministry of Home Affairs for helicopters from Wednesday to meet emergency requirements in the wake of law and order situation in the border town of Moreh, an official said.
The government of Manipur requested the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for helicopters from Wednesday to meet emergency requirements in the wake of law and order situation in the border town of Moreh, an official said.
Commissioner Home T Ranjit Singh in a letter to Additional Secretary (Police II Division), Ministry of Home Affairs, said: "The law and order situation in the border town of Moreh has become a matter of serious concern as there has been continuous exchange of fire and this has resulted in the death of one IRB personnel this morning".
"In view of the prevalent situation in Moreh, medical emergency may arise anytime," the letter marked 'most immediate' stated.
The state government requested for helicopters from MHA for at least seven days as Moreh town witnessed heavy exchange of fire between security forces and suspected Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons at more than three different locations on Wednesday morning.
Moreh is located 105 km from the state capital Imphal.
Due to the volatile law and order situation in Tengnoupal district and threat of ambush from Kuki militants and highway blockade by Kuki women, helicopter services have become the only convenient way for airlifting injured personnel.
The letter also informed that MHA had on January 4 asked to intimate specific period and specify the requirement of MHA Air assets (Helicopter), as it cannot be possible to provide MHA Air Asset continuously in one place for a longer period due to limited resources in North East region.
Expressing serious concern over continuous exchange of fire between Kuki militants and Manipur police in Moreh town, the state government urged the MHA to provide helicopter service for transportation of reinforcement and ammunition to the border town.
In the letter, the home commissioner said that the situation in Moreh might escalate and deteriorate in the near future.
"In view of the prevalent situation, situation may deteriorate further in Moreh, medical emergency may arise any time.
Police department has also informed that there is need for airlifting of security personnel, ammunition, etc., to Moreh," mentioned the official communique of the home commissioner to the ministry.
(With inputs from PTI) .