SIPHRO

Imphal, February 21, 2006 (ANI): The Army will sponsor the fitting of artificial limbs to all persons who lost their limbs in Improved Explosive Devices (IED) blasts in Manipur.

Announcing this, Lieutenant General Z.U. Shah, General Officer Commanding of the Dimapur based 3 Corps said that the limbs would be fitted at the Military Hospital Kirkee in Pune.

It may be recalled that rebel United National Liberation Front (UNLF) had laid an extensive network of IEDs in the villages of Thanlon and Parbung subdivisions in Churachand district of the State apprehending operations by the Security Forces, which resulted in a large number of casualties to the local population.

The villagers in these subdivisions have been at the receiving end of excesses by the UNLF for several years.

As had been reported earlier in the media by the Hmar Students Association (HSA), 81 persons of this area have been killed in IED blasts during the past two years. Many more have suffered life long disability due to loss of limbs through injuries sustained during the blasts. Recently, many villagers from these areas were forced to flee by UNLF after a clash with Hmar People Convetion (Democratic) on January 6 and they took refuge in Sakwardai-Ratu areas in Mizoram.

The people of these far-flung areas had made numerous requests to the State and Central Governments to free them from the prolonged miseries endured by them by deploying Security Forces in the region. The issue also figured prominently in the Parliament when Member of Parliament, Sangliana, raised it.

Against this backdrop, the Army launched Operation Dragnet in Thanlon - Parbung areas on 20 January. During this operation, troops of 57 Mountain Division attacked a number of UNLF hideouts. In the encounters, 14 insurgents were killed and a number of them injured.

The Army is continuing with the mopping up operations in the area. In one such operation on February 8, three UNLF cadres including SS Sergeant Major Laikhang and Khwairakpam Naoibi were killed at Senglel village about 30 kms north of Thanlon.

Consequent to the operation, the Army has deployed a large number of IED Detection and Destruction Teams to sanitise the interiors of Thanlon - Parbung areas. Till now these teams have detected and destroyed 82 IEDs from Parbung, Taithu, Tinsong, Thanlon, Tolbung, Phaijang, Saite, Maulian and Phainom. Besides, 70 kgs of explosives and a large quantity of detonators were recovered during the operation.

The entire stretch of NH-150 from Churachandpur to Tipaimukh has been cleared of UGs and IEDs. The villagers have been sensitised and educated by the Army with regard to precautions to avoid IEDs. They have been asked to inform nearest Army unit when they detect any IEDs. The Army hopes to clear all the villages in the region of IEDs within the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, on hearing the news of successful Army operations, the villagers who were forced to flee to Mizoram due to excesses of UNLF, have started returning to their homes. Republic Day was celebrated at the Subdivisional Headquarters of Thanlon and Parbung where the National Flag was hoisted after a gap of nine years, under the aegis of local village authorities in which a large number of people participated with great interest and enthusiasm.

On 7 February, Lieutenant General Shah had visited Thanlon.

General Shah informed that before the Army was inducted into Manipur in September 2004, the entire area of South Manipur was under the control of underground groups. After its induction, on the request of the State Government, the Army carried out deliberate and systematic operations to clear the subdivisions of Chakpi Karong, Thinghat, Henglep and Jiribam between October 2004 and December 2005.

After being driven out from these areas, the UGs began to base themselves in the subdivisions of Thanlon and Parbung. It was then Army decided to launch operation in these areas.

Briefing on the detailed conduct of the operations General Dwivedi, whose division undertook this task, said that his troops approached Thanlon, Parbung and neighbouring areas from multiple directions achieving complete surprise.

The UGs who were caught unaware tried to put up resistance at Parbung, Taithu, Tolbung, Dailon and Chongmun. They used sophisticated weapons from well-entrenched position but had to give up after suffering a spate of casualties. The Army suffered two fatal casualties including that of Lt Col Rajeev Bakshi who was leading his troops at Parbung where four UNLF cadres were killed in the encounter.

The main demand of the people was the permanent presence of Army in the area, as they feared that the UNLF cadres would return to harm them if Army was pulled out. General Shah assured the people that Army would stay there till the normalcy returned. He also apprised the locals that the State Government has promised to re-establish its offices in the two sub-divisional headquarters of Thanlon and Parbung and commence development projects.

Courtesy: Webindia123.com