Imphal, February 07, 2006: With the successful conduct of ‘Operation Dragnet’ which was launched on January 20 this year by the troops of 57 Mountain Division under the aegis of 3 Corps, the entire 262 km stretch of National Highway-150 from Churchandpur to Tipaimukh is now free from underground elements. Claiming this the General Officer in Command, GOC, 3 Corps, ZU Shah has stated that the operation was conducted most professionally with a humane face and received excellent cooperation from the local people.
The GOC was briefing the media during a spot visit to Thanlon village of Churchandpur district today. The media persons were transported by an army helicopter from Leimakhong army headquarter this morning.
During his briefing the GOC stated the need for conducting a joint operation with the Myanmar army at the international border and went on to say that the army has been facing a hard task in clearing out the underground elements from the Somtal areas of Chandel district for during these operations, the militants always slipped across the international border leaving the army helpless as they cannot proceed beyond the international border.
Talking on the suspension of operation against some hill based militant groups, ZU Shah said that the matter will be discussed with the state government to bring an end to the present confusion between the army and the state government. He further called on all militants groups operating in the state to come forward to the negotiating table to end the armed conflict forever in the state.
In the meantime, the GOC also called on the state chief minister O Ibobi Singh at the latter’s official bungalow this evening after he returned from the visit to Thanlon and discussed matters related with the suspension of operation by the army against some of the militant groups.
Stating that the militants had been in control of six subdivisions of south Manipur before the army was inducted into these areas in mid-2004, ZU Shah claimed that out of these six subdivisions, Chakpikarong, Thinghat, Henglep and Jiribam had been cleared in army operations between October 4 and December 5.
He went on to say that the time was now ripe to address the situation in Thanlon and Parbung where the UNLF had relocated in large numbers. Referring to the media report of villagers complaining of harassment by the underground elements and laying extensive IEDs in these areas, he stated that it had resulted in the death of 13 persons and loss of limbs of another 20.
In all more than 80 people have lost their lives in the last two years, the GOC bewailed and charged the underground groups of physical violence, including rape and torture which forced a large number of inhabitants, including from Thanlon, to migrate to Mizoram.
He also recalled that the helpless people had requested the state and Central governments to free them from the prolonged miseries endured by them by deploying security forces in the region and stated that the issue had also figured prominently in the Parliament when it was raised by an MP, HT Sangliana.
Lt Gen ZU Shah informed the media persons that ‘Operation Dragnet’ was launched against this backdrop on January 20, 2006 with the aim of clearing the two remaining subdivisions in south Manipur from the stronghold of the UGs and the 57 Mountain division and its units carried out the mission in a most professional manner.
The army has also undertaken the IED clearance operations to sanitise the areas. With the secure environment the civil administration is being reactivated, the GOC said adding that the process of development in these subdivisions will be set into motion soon.
Major general GG Dwivedi also gave the details of the operations during the briefing and said that a large number of UNLF cadres had relocated to Thanlon-Parbung as a sequel to intense operations undertaken by the army in south Manipur. The UNLF resorted to laying of extensive IEDs fearing operations by the security forces, he said.
During the operation in the interiors the army was entailed to move over long distances employing a variety of transport modes, Dwivedi stated while talking about the experiences of the army personnel and stated that the operation was planned in such a manner that the target area was approached simultaneously from multiple directions.
The UGs were completely surprised by the troops as they approached Parbung, Thanlon and neighbouring villages, amidst the UGs efforts to put up resistance, he recounted. The UGs also fired from well entrenched positions with sophisticated arms at Parbung, Taithu, Tolbung, Maulian, Chongmun and Dailan villages.
He also claimed that during the encounters that took place 14 UGs were confirmed killed out of which dead bodies of nine had been recovered. Many of them suffered injuries and were missing. The troops also recovered 8 weapons, a large quantity of assorted ammunition including lethod bombs and more than 70 kgs of explosives.
During the sanitisation of the areas 66 IEDs were either recovered or neutralized in these areas, said the major general in his briefing to the media persons. The army also suffered two fatal casualties including lieutenant colonel Rajeev Bakshi who was killed at Parbung. He made a supreme sacrifice for the freedom of the poor people of the area, he added.
Reiterating the army’s claim that the entire 262 km stretch of NH-150 from Churchandpur to Tipaimukh was free from UGs, he went on to say that on hearing the news of the successful army operations and assurance of army’s continued deployment in the area more than 200 of 800 villagers who had taken refuge in Mizoram due to UNLF excesses had now returned to their homes.
He also stated that after a gap of nine years, the Republic Day was celebrated at the sub divisional headquarters of Thanlon and Parbung where the national flag was hoisted under the aegis of local village authorities and participated by the people with great interest and enthusiasm. They even expressed their solidarity with the army, the major general observed.
Some appreciation notes submitted by the village chief and voluntary organisations were produced before the media as evidence to prove the villagers’ gratitude towards the army, during the press briefing.
Assuring that the grievances of the people will be addressed on priority, the corps commander took the initiative to arrange for artificial limbs for the unfortunate IED victims besides assisting in the development works, he informed the mediapersons.
He further said that the state administration had assured that the SDO office at both the subdivisions would begin functioning soon. A number of projects including the repair of NH-150 are on the anvil, he finally stated.
Source: The Imphal Free Press