Imphal, November 22: In a major achievement of the ongoing counter insurgency operations in Churachandpur district, conducive conditions have been achieved now for the re-establishment of civil administration in the Singngat sub-divisional headquarters and a function to mark the reinstatement of all Government offices there will be held on November 27, Lt Col S Mookherjee of the 13th J&K Rifles which is looking after the town claimed today.

In an informal meet with pressmen inside his battalion headquarters at Khuga Dam, the first since the army deployment about two months back, Lt Col Mookherjee said that the proposed public function, to be hosted by the 13th J&K Rifles, will be attended by all district level officials and all subdivision level offices including SDO, SDPO and added that the PHC will start working at Singngat village from the day.

Free medical camp for villagers, cultural programmes, and entertainment programs and games will mark the occasion, he added.

It may be mentioned that five sub-division headquarters of Churachandpur district (out of six), including Singngat have been non functional since 1998.On counter insurgency operations that the armies are presently engaged in Churachandpur district, Mookherjee said that militancy will be eliminated in due course of time, but the real solution will come about only when the hearts and minds of the people are won.

All the unusable highways and roads, non-functioning offices and poverty have something to do with insurgency and development will take place once there is peace, he said.

On the recent high profile encounter with MPA militants that took place at Umtaal village, Mookherjee said that their patrol was fired upon from well entrenched positions and a fierce encounter took place, but stressed that there was no casualty on their side.

One jawan sustained leg injuries when his service weapon accidentally went off, he claimed.

One major difference between Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur is that militants usually fight to their death in the former while they shoot at you and run in the latter, he mused.

Answering queries on allegations of forced labour and seizure of vehicles, Mookherjee denied any wrong doing and added that they always pay for anything they get from the public.

When countered that there were indeed genuine cases of such incidents, he said that his battalion, at least, is not involved in them.

Please report all such cases, if they are genuine and we will definitely take action against the erring personnel, he promised.

He also said that the army has now uprooted militants from many of their camps deep inside Churachandpur district.

A display of arms and articles seized during an operation at Allu Singtam village on October 30 was also made for the press persons.

It included 54 AK-47 spent bullets and 6 live ones; incriminating documents, sentry duty rosters of the MPA militants; medical provisions and dispo vans; batteries; a wireless set and.

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