In a matter of grave concern, miscreants are camouflaging civil
vehicles to resemble Assam Rifles trucks.
The Assam Rifles has written to the Manipur Police raising the alarm
over the matter, holding Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs) responsible for
it.
This comes days after the Manipur Police were apprised by the Central
intelligence agencies that miscreants were using camouflaged uniforms to carry
out violence in the State.
A letter by the Assam Rifles to the Churachandpur SP on September
18 read, “It is reliably learnt that few miscreants with the help of VBIGs have
acquired many used TATA-407 (trucks) from civil market and have converted them
to resembled the TATA 407 vehicles being used by the Assam Rifles by painting
and putting the Assam Rifles insignia,” adding that the vehicles are located in
“the general area of Kakching”.
The letter urged that the matter be conveyed to the Kakching SP,
stating that “conversion of civil vehicles to look like Assam Rifles’ vehicle
clearly shows the nefarious intention of VBIGs to tarnish the image of Assam
Rifles or utilise the same vehicle for anti-national activities”.
Over the course of the past week, there have been mass protests in
the valley over the arrest of five people, who were arrested after being found
to be in possession of firearms and wearing camouflage uniforms.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s office announced that
security forces will start a “strong and comprehensive search operation” in 15
days to recover illegal weapons not surrendered by then.
“The State Government is willing to take a considerate view for the
persons submitting such illegal weapons within these 15 days. At the end of the
15 days, security forces, both of the Centre and the State will undertake a
strong and comprehensive search operation all over the State to recover such
weapons, and all persons associated with any illegal weapons will be dealt with
severely, as per the law,” read a statement by the Chief Minister’s Office.
It reiterated statements being made by the police since the last
one week that “there have been reports of extortion, threats and abduction by
miscreants/groups using illegal weapons”.
“This is a serious matter and the state government will take strong
action against such miscreants/ groups in any part of the state,” it added.
Agencies
