More bloodshed in 'sovereign' Manipur certain: DGP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 17, 2010: Contending that activities of UG groups and other insurgency related problems in Manipur would be reduced by 80 percent if the neighbouring border of Myanmar is effectively sealed, DGP Y Joykumar has claimed that suffessful plugging of the porous border would result in finding a solution to the problem of insurgency within the next 2-3 years.

He also predicted that due to presence of different armed groups and the complex nature of the Manipur society's composition, possibility of even more violence in case the UGs succeed in their mission, cannot be ruled out.

Interacting with a group of mediapersons from outside as well as local at his office chamber here today, Joykumar asserted that activities of the UGs in Manipur are being operated mainly from the UG camps in Myanmarese territory.

After the joint operation of the Army and the Assam Rifles in 2005, there is no permanent or secured camps of the UGs in Manipur.

However, UGs from Manipur have established many camps in Myanmar as well as in Bangladesh from where the top leaders handle the operation, he opined.

Efforts are being made from the side of Manipur to flush the UGs.

But there has been no corresponding efforts from the side of Myanmar, the DGP said, adding that the matter had been discussed at the level of the Home Minister and the Home Secretary.

The police officer also indicated that the matter had also been taken up during the recent Yangon visit of the Home Secretary.

Apart from efforts at the Central level, meetings are also being held at Army as well as at the police and civil administration to solve the problem.

DGP interacting with the mediapersons

Deployment of Assam Rifles to guard the border area is yet to be made operational as border outpost and the troops deployed along the porous border are focusing on counter insurgency, the DGP said, adding that checking infiltration has also not been satisfactory.

He went on to point out that development of a border road to ensure protec tion of the border area is still required.

Nonetheless, survey work for fencing the border area on the Manipur sector of the 370 km long Indo-Myanmar boundary is underway and proposal have been made for sealing some portions of the border area where the UGs normally infiltrate.

Maintaining that among the Northeastern States, the problem of Manipur is very complex, the DGP noted that effect of any problem in Mizoram and Nagaland could be felt in Manipur as well.

So it would not be easy to resolve the problems of Manipur and every aspects have to be taken into consideration.

The DGP said that none of the UG groups in Manipur have any ideology and their main objective is to collect illegal taxes from the public and earn easy money.

UG groups like NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K) also impose illegal taxes from the vehicles plying along the National Highways within Manipur.

The DGP further said that most of the UG groups have been established on ethnic line.

So presuming that Manipur is an independent Nation, there would be clashes among these UG groups, the DGP added.

However, the problem of insurgency in Manipur is not here to stay permanently.

It would be finished off within the next 2-3 years, the DGP assured, adding that various strategies have been worked out towards this end and the same are being put into practice.

Negotiation at the table is the only means to end the problem and pressures are being exerted for coming to the negotiating table, the DGP said, adding that everyone knows how the pressures are being mounted.

On the rehabilitation measures taken up by the State Government, the DGP informed that 67 surrendered UGs have been provided job by the Government.

A rehabilitation centre for the surrendered UGs is under construction at Jiribam.

Discussions are also on for implementation of other schemes that would ensure respectability of the surrenderees in the society.

The DGP also informed the media team that Centre has already sanctioned Rs 5.23 crores for purchasing three Hovercrafts which would be used for flushing out UGs from Loktak lake.

Later during the day, the media team visited Bishnupur to inspect the functioning os some schools there and met the SP apart from interacting with the surrendered UGs staying in the rehabilitation centre at Lamphel.