Child soldiers : DG plays task force card
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 24: In the wake of the recent spate of kidnapping young children and the design of a UG group to induct under-aged children as child soldiers, the State Police Department has taken up extra security measures including setting up of task forces in the four valley districts and enhancing checking exercise.

Briefing media persons this afternoon at the conference room of SP Imphal West, DGP Y Joykumar said that the Government as well as the Police Department are deeply concerned with the recent reports of young children missing on the one hand and the attempt of a proscribed armed group to induct under-aged children as their cadres on the other side.

The DGP observed that such attempt of the UG group is a very serious crime not only in the perspective of human rights but also in terms of minors' rights.

Joykumar flanked by the SPs of IE and IW addresses the media

Referring to the reported press statements of PREPAK (GS) and PREPAK (VC), the two groups mainly involved in the issue, that they never kidnapped any child but the children themselves came to join the outfits on their own, the DGP, quoting reports of an investigation made by the Police Department, asserted that the statements of the outfits were totally baseless.

He further observed that it is unrealistic for children of 12/13 years resolving according to their own conscience to join a particular insurgent group.

Taking serious note of the recent developments, the Police Department has not only alerted police check points but also specifically instructed all security personnel to step up checking of all forms of vehicles and to verify any children found in the vehicles whether they are in the company of their parents, where they are going and for what purpose, informed the DGP.

Moreover, mobile task forces have been set up to intensify frisking and checking of all commuters in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts.

Further, mobile security units have been deployed to maintain strict vigil during school opening and closing hours in all these four districts, he stated.

The task forces set up to contain the issue of kidnapping children will be led by SDPO Lamphel N Herojit in Imphal West district.

His phone numbers are 9436038404/2414621.For Imphal East district Addl SP Md Qayamuddin (mobile number 9856473194) will look after the task force.

SDPO Thoubal H Jogeschandra (mobile no 9436025046) will lead the task force in Thoubal district.

For Bishnupur district, Addl SP Bishnupur Ng Themthing (mobile no 9862028393) will be in charge of Bishnupur task force, elaborated Joykumar while appealing to the public to inform through these mobile phone numbers in case of any incident of a child going missing or when there is any attempt of kidnapping children.

Information on such incidents may be given to the SP Imphal West through mobile no 9436026263, SP Imphal East through 9436023204, SP Thoubal through 9436028459 and SP Bishnupur through 9436028243/9856801133, he added.

Maintaining that those mainly involved in kidnapping children are those retired activists of the particular UG groups, bailed out cadres and over ground workers, the DGP informed that the Police Department is keeping a strict vigil over the activities of the over ground workers of the UG groups.

Moreover, necessary steps have been initiated with immediate effect to check and verify vehicles and their owners which are found parked in suspicious manner in schools and at tuition centres, Joykumar stated while seeking cooperation from the public in controlling the issue.

So far, 14 cases have been registered in connection with missing children and incidents of kidnapping while six persons reportedly involved in kidnapping incidents have been apprehended.

Of the cases registered till date, one is related to kidnapping of children in Thoubal district, six in Imphal West district and two in Imphal East district.

Meanwhile five cases related to missing children in Thoubal district have been registered.

On the other hand, five persons have been pulled up in connection with kidnapping children from Imphal West district besides another one from Imphal East district, disclosed the DGP.

To a query raised by media persons, DGP Joykumar assured that all the children who have been kidnapped by UG groups or gone on their own to join UG outfits will be handed over to their parents in case police personnel come across such them.

Today's media briefing was also attended by top police officials including SP Imphal West L Kailun and SP Imphal East Th Radheshyam.