Imphal, May 23: After effectively cutting off the supply route of militants at Sajik Tampak, security forces are now training their eyes on the Jiribam-Vangai Range route in Churachandpur to cut off the supply routes to militant camps based in these areas.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a well placed source today said that following the opening of the 44 Mountain Brigade at Chakpikarong to monitor the supply route to Sajik Tampak as well as to launch a crack down on the militant camps, the 12 Grenadiers which is based at the Jiribam railway station has opened as army post at Jirimukh to monitor the food supply route to Vangai Range in Churachandpur.

The new strategy was adopted following intelligence inputs that a number of militants have shifted base from Sajik Tampak to Vangai Range, said the source and added that the security personnel have started checking the transportation of food and other necessary items from Jiri along this route.

With the onset of monsoon, the army has temporarily halted the offensive launched at Sajik Tampak and at the moment the personnel are engaged in fortifying and constructing their camps, informed the source.

Though Sajik Tampak and its adjoining areas have virtually come under the control of the security personnel, they are presently housed at make shift and temporary camps and therefore their attention is presently engaged in constructing their camps and posts.

The source further said that the State Government was informed about the deployment of the security personnel for area domination in the Sajik Tampak area for the recent Lok Sabha election.

However the sudden casualties suffered by the security personnel in the first few days of the troops deployment may have been instrumental in the army's decision to launch a cleanup operation at Sajik Tampak, added the source.

The security force has also now set its eyes on opening new posts at Churachandpur area to neutralize the free movements of the militants.

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