Army may extend Manipur ceasefire

IMPHAL, March 15: The Army is likely to extend its suspension of counter-insurgency operations for another 16 days. Though officially, the Army has not said anything on the matter, sources said the formal announcement on the extension may come tomorrow. General-officer-commanding of 57 mountain division, Maj. Gen. Iqbal Singh earlier declared the suspension of military operations against all militant outfits by the Army and Assam Rifles for 15 days beginning March 1 for Yaoshang (Holi) festival. The Radhabinod Koijam-led People's Front government had also announced a unilateral ceasefire with all insurgent outfits in the state during the entire month of March in connection with the Yaoshang festival. The Chief Minister has asked the Army to extend its suspension of operations till March 31. In view of the government's request, the Army authorities were planning to extend the suspension of operations till the end of this month. The sources said it may review the suspension of operations if militants continued to violate the spirit of the truce and attacked security forces. The militants have, in fact, violated the unilateral ceasefire by attacking the oil tankers' convoy on March 8 in Senapati district. In another incident, an Assam Rifles jawan and a seven-month-old infant were killed and four civilians injured in a bomb explosion triggered by militants at Sangakpham in Imphal on Tuesday evening. Three Border Security Force personnel were also hurt.