Imphal, July 28 2009: While the State police has been crippled with lack of manpower and adequate weapons in dealing with extortion activities along the National Highway-39 stretch of Imphal-Dimapur road, troops of 57 Mountain Division deployed along the route have not been taking up appreciable action against UG cadres of the groups, which have signed the SoO pact, even if they are caught indulging in various activities which are in violation of the agreed ground rules.

Talking to The Sangai Express, on condition of anonymity, a senior police officer said that inspite of extortion activities being carried out along this road stretch, the troops deployed there have not been taking up any action against the cadres on the ground that the ceasefire agreement has been effected.

Even some UG cadres who were arrested along with arms have been freed.

The police officer disclosed that on July 24, personnel of 36 Assam Rifles posted at Hengbung arrested two UG cadres of a group, which is a signatory of the Suspension of Operation (SoO), along with arms, from near Taphou area under Senapati Police Station.

However, both the armed UG cadres were set free later, despite earlier informing the police that they would be handed over.

The two armed UG cadres, who were arrested while trying to extort money, also opened some rounds of gun fire and the report of the same had been registered in the general diary of the Senapati Police Station, the police officer informed.

Taking serious note of the conduct of the AR personnel in releasing the arrested armed UG cadres, SP of Senapati District, Nishit Kumar Ujjwal had written a strong protest note to the higher officials of the 59 Mountain Brigade at Senapati District Headquar ters and the matter communicated to the Police Headquarters, the police officer added.

In connection with this incident, PRO of the Army, Col Rajesh Mishra clarified that although the report of the arrest of two persons by the Army is true, one of them turned out to an innocent although the other person was trying to extort money.

Explaining further that the task of the Army is to fight insurgency and not the insurgents, the PRO informed that the two arrested persons have been released after proper counselling.

As they gave the assurance of not indulging in such activities in the future and that the Army can take up any action against them if they acted otherwise, the two arrested persons have been set free by the Army following their assurance, the PRO further said.

It is said that three Battalions of Assam Rifles are being deployed in Senapati District as against the police strength of only 300 personnel.

Police personnel who are deployed on duty along the stretch from Keithelmanbi to Mao are also being issued only 303 Rifles and SLRs, though the Government has started issuing some AK rifles to the escorts of the SP.

The police officer also informed that apart from lack of adequate manpower and weapons, allotment of just one vehicle to a police station causes a lot of inconveniences in carrying out their duty.

The police are handicapped and cannot take action even if they notice illegal activities along the road stretch.

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