Kohima, June 11: The army has decided to implement a two-pronged strategy in Manipur, undoing the damage caused by allegations of fake encounters on one hand and tackling deteriorating law and order on the other. The army will initiate a damage-control exercise in the state to rebuild confidence among the people while coming down on militancy with an iron hand.
“We will progressively clear it up,” Lt Gen. J.R. Mukherjee, chief of staff, Eastern Command, told mediapersons here, referring to the spurt in militancy in Manipur.
He added that the whole problem in the region “is interrelated, especially Nagaland and Manipur”. He attributed this to the ongoing peace process between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) without naming the outfit. “It will have its brush-off out there,” he added.
The NSCN (I-M) has been demanding integration of Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur into Nagalim or Greater Nagaland.
The general was on a visit to Kohima to interact with former servicemen of the Assam Regiment after a visit to Manipur this morning.
The senior officer, however, skirted questions on the reported plans of the army to ferret out Indian insurgents in Myanmar with help of the army of the neighbouring country. “I don’t think anything is happening,” he said.
Defending the army on claims of human rights violations in Manipur, Mukherjee said “99 per cent of the allegations were exaggerations”.
In the past few months, there have been scores of allegations against army jawans for killing civilians in fake encounters.
Mukherjee, however, conceded that damage had been done to the forces on account of the allegations. “We are trying our best to win trust,” he said, citing Chandel district as an example. He explained that confidence in the army was returning in the district.
Bringing about development will help build trust and confidence, he said.
The general also announced that the Assam Regiment Association would be formed on Tuesday. The association will have both serving and ex-servicemen from the Assam Regiment as members. Its two focal areas include welfare of the ex-servicemen and servicemen and their families and looking after their medical needs and children’s welfare through self-employment opportunities.
Mukherjee said he was saddened to see the condition of ex-servicemen of the regiment during his tours in the region.
The general, who will retire by July, is scheduled to hand over charge in Shillong on Tuesday.