Imphal. February 02, 2006: The army said more than 200 tribal villagers who fled to Mizoram last month following reported confrontation between two militant groups at Parbung and Thanlon sub-divisions of Manipur’s Churachandpur district have returned to their homes after the army cleared the areas of militants.
The army in a statement said militants camping in these two remote sub-divisional headquarters of Churachandpur have been cleared after the army launched Operation Dragnet last year following request from the Manipur government and the villagers of the areas. The army said the militants were camping there for the past nine years.
The release said the villagers expressed gratitude and extended a traditional reception to Major General GG Dwnvedi, the GOC of 57 Mountain Division, when he visited Thanlon and Parbung yesterday.
The village chiefs informed the GOC that more than 200 villagers have started returning to their homes as peace has been restored in these areas. The villagers also submitted a memorandum to the GOC. They requested the army officials for permanent posting of army personnel in the area. The GOC assured the village chiefs that army would stay there until normalcy is restored.
The army launched the operation codenamed Operation Dragnet on January 20 following that a large number of tribal villages left homes and fled to Mizoram due to militant activities in the areas.
The army said its troops killed nine UNLF militants and recovered some weapons and explosives. The army lost one Lt. Col and one jawan. The UNLF claimed that only three cadres were killed. It further claimed that a large number of army personnel were killed during the operation. (Newmal News Network).
Source: NE Herald, February 03, 2006