Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 05 2009:
After the Village Defence Force (VDF) personnel had been assigned frisking and checking duties just like Manipur police personnel in Imphal East and West districts, now the young VDF personnel have begun to be used in counter insurgency operation for the first time at Kakching in Thoubal district.
Many VDF personnel were used in cordoning off areas of Kakching early morning today while the Thoubal district police commandos conducted a search operation there.
A high police official informed this newspaper that the police received an information regarding the presence of some armed underground insurgents at Kakching.
The Thoubal district police commandos launched a search operation in certain areas of Kakching.
About 50 personnel of VDF were used in the operation.
They helped cordoning off the areas to prevent escape of the UG cadres, the source said.
Though they are armed with only 303 rifles, their courage and spirit made the police officials believe that they can face the UGs, thus they were taken into the search operation, the police official said.
The combined team of Thoubal district police commandos and the VDF cordoned off Kakching Moirangthem Leikai, Ningthou Leikai and Mayai Leikai, and herded every man and woman in the age group of 17 to 44 out of their homes into the Ibudhou Naohanlai ground at Kakching bazar where verification of identity and questioning were conducted by the police.
The search operation was led by SDPO Sugunu M Nimai.
However, no one was arrested.