Imphal, December 16: After the success of Sajik Tampak Operation in 2004 as part of India Government's strategy to suppress militancy movement in Manipur, Indian Army launched Operation Khengjoi and have succeeded in flushing out underground elements from the jungle of Khengjoi.

As a Christmas present to the villagers of Khengjoi, who have fled from their homes and hearths following heavy gun fight between the security forces and the militants, the Indian Army have also made necessary arrangement for setting up an Army post in the remote village of Chandel district.

Talking to a team of mediapersons from Imphal who had gone to Khengjoi in connection with the ongoing operation yesterday, Commanding Officer of 10 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Debashis Das who is leading Operation Khengjoi informed that the operation began on December 5 by the personnel of JK Light Infantry under the aegis of 26 Sector Assam Rifles located at Kakching with Khemdo as the starting point.

In order to ensure that no harm is caused to the villagers and their properties, the Army personnel slowly advanced toward the village by using search light and firing bombs in the jungle area where the militants are suspected to be hiding.

The operation continued both during the day and the night and after flushing out the militants from Mokot, Sehao, Simol and Bilon, the army troops managed to occupy Khengjoi on December 13, the CO said.

The CO further said that no direct encounter between the advancing Army troops and the militants ever took place during the 9-day long operation.

However, 44 landmines laid by the fleeing militants in the jungle areas and 100 empty cartridges have been recovered.

More intense search of the area is being carried out, he added.

Responding to a question raised by the mediapersons, CO Debashis Das said there were no villagers at Khengjoi when the Army troops occupied the village.

The Army have not been able to ascertain the villagers have fled.

Refuting the charges levelled against the security forces by UNLF, the CO clarified that the Army personnel had never fired toward the direction of the villages directly nor committed any atrocities on the people.

Army personnel would not do such thing in future as well, he said, adding that if the charges were true then there would be been lot of human casualties and destruction of the houses and properties of the villagers.

The CO also took the media team to inspect the villages which are under the control of the Army.

Replying to another question, the CO informed that after the operation 15 sq km of area stretching from Khemdo to Khengjoi has been brought under the control of the Army.

During the entire operation, only two Army personnel have suffered injuries while trying to deactivate the landmines planted by the militants.

However, the extent of the casualties caused on the side of the militants and to which direction they have fled could not be found out.

To continue with the operation, a permanent Army post would be set up at Khengjoi and check posts in the neighbouring villages, he informed, while appealing to the villagers who have fled to return home and resume with their normal life.

When the media team went to Sehao village to meet the villagers, one Chinglam disclosed that the cadres of one particular underground organisation used to come and stay at the village since the last few years.

But on night of December 7, heavy exchange of firing broke out between the Army personnel and the underground activists.

Fortunately, none of the village suffered casualty in the firing.

When the media team asked the villagers whether there was any instances of Army personnel harassing or committing atrocities on them, they replied in the negative.

However, they disclosed that two villagers namely Yamhem (45) and Khulsei (38) are presently undergoing treatment at a private hospital at Imphal after they were bashed up by the security forces while the underground cadres were still present at the village.

Apart from the language problem in communicating with the army personnel, they said they do not have any difficulties at present.

The media team also went to Simol to meet the villagers, one of the elder persons identified as Papong said there was no firing incident at his village, though sounds of firing have been heard from the neighbouring villages.

Earlier activists of an underground organisations used to come to the village to buy/collect rice and other rations, but they do come any more after the arrival of the army personnel, he said.

To a query, Papong said the underground activists who used to frequent the village told the villagers not to venture out in the jungle areas of the village as landmines have been planted but the villagers do not know the exact spots where the mines have been laid.

'So, one of my daughter in-laws has lost one of the leg when she accidentally stepped on a landmine while returning from cultivation work on December 3', he said adding that said woman is presented undergoing treatment at a hospital at Imphal.

When the media team arrived at Khengjoi, the village was deserted and there were no villager.

Activities were seen for setting up an Army post at the only Church of the village with four bunkers of the army personnel already erected on either side of the Church building.

Road expansion work from Khemdo to Khengjoi village was also seen with the help of a bulldozer and villagers who have been hired to carry rations and other ammunition of the army personnel.

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