Manipur seeks 5 more coys of commando unit

IMPHAL, July 30: The state Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh has stated that the United Front Ministry has urged the Central authority to raise five more companies of Manipur Police commando unit in the state to combat militancy effectively. Replying to a question by M Manihar, Opposition member and Congress MLA from the Wabagai Assembly constituency in Thoubal district on the last day of the ongoing Assembly session, the Chief Minister asserted that there was no policy of the government for the deployment of commando police forces in every district headquarters of the state. He, however, pointed out that considering the prevailing law-and-order situation and availability, altogether 493 commando personnel were deployed in the four district headquarters of the state. In order to overcome the unlawful activities in the four valley districts, a total of 221 commando personnel were deployed in Imphal West district headquarters, about 83 personnel were attached to the Imphal east district police station, 93 personnel were deputed to the Thoubal district police headquarters while another 96 personnel were assisting the police team in the Bishnupur district. Replying to another supplementary question, Nipamacha Singh promised that necessary police commando units would be deployed at the remaining police headquarters in the five hills districts after raising five more companies of commandos. The Chief Minister, however, admitted that there was no policy for establishing separate jurisdiction for the district commando at the moment, saying that" it would not be possible as of now". In another reply, Nipamacha Singh also assured that the vacant posts in the various jails of the state will be created soon after the lifting of ban on recruitment. He, however, denied that the employees in the various jails had not got promotion to their respective grades since 1982.