Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 12:
Army authorities have refuted the news item appeared in The Sangai Express in the August 11 edition under the headline �Dingpi villagers caught between apathy and harassment'.
Quoting Army authorities, a PIB Defence Wing statement said that the claims made by Ngakhoyan Guite has malafied intent most certainly motivated by interested parties.
The security forces, had in fact moved into Joupi and Hengshi area in October last year and ever since then there has been total amity between the security personnel and the local people.
The people have, by and large, been grateful to the security personnel for bringing succour to them since the militants had fled the area, the statement clarified.
The Army authorities further clarified that no private houses were occupied as the Army does not need to do so, the statement said, adding that the Catholic Church at Joupi was renovated and handed over to the people during May, 2005.Besides, schools were made to function with mid-day meals being provided by the Rajput battalion.
The people were given employment with daily wages whenever their assistance was required in road construction and other such like tasks, the statement said, assert-ing that no coercion for seeking information about the militants has been reso-rted to as the SF is quite updated on every issues pertaining to the CI envi-ronment.