NEW DELHI: The Manipur Government has sent an SOS to the Center seeking deployment of the Army and large-scale induction of Central forces into the State to stop clashes between the ethnic Nagas and Kukis which has claimed 80 lives.
Chief Minister R.K.Dorendra Singh, during his recent visit to New Delhi, had urged the Center to give financial assistance as well as additional forces.
Singh demanded immediate funds to purchase new vehicles and sophisticated weapons for the Manipur police.
He also wanted five battalions of paramilitary forces as well as a division of the army to deal with the situation in Chandel district where the clashes are taking place.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) has been battling with the Kuki National Army (KNA) and the Kuki National Federation (KNF) in the State, which it claims are sponsored by the Manipur Government.
The Chief Minister has denied the charge, telling political leaders at a recent meeting that he proposed to ban the KNF and KNA, akin to the ban imposed on NSCN, PLA, PREPAK, KCP and UNLF.
Two battalions of Central forces have already been deployed in the Chandel district and the zone of operation in the border area is now under the Army.
The forces have also opened up the strategic border road between Imphal and more which had been blockaded by the NSCN for nearly a month.
Worried about the clashes between the two ethnic groups in the stale, Dorendra Singh has set up a high-level three member security committees, headed by himself and with former Chief Minister and Nagaleader Rishang Keishingand: Power Minister Holkhomang Haokip. A Kuki leader the committee will direct the operations of the Manipur police and the Manipur Rifles against the warning militant groups.
The NSCN is the most dreaded” and well-organized underground group in the Northeast, and the Chief Minister has told the Center that the State forces which were equipped with ancient Sprig field rifles could not take on the underground groups.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 7, 1993
