IMPHAL: Two days after three village volunteers were killed during a deadly exchange of gunfire between security forces and armed miscreants in Ukhrul district, a Border Security Force (BSF) team is likely to be stationed in Thawai Kuki village of the district.
Expanding the scope of safety measures, as many as 60 BSF companies might be stationed across nine districts of Manipur, reports in local press suggest.
Earlier on August 18, the BSF has formally registered its protest with Manipur’s Governor Anusuiya Uikey, citing instances of an alleged “blockade on movement of troops” orchestrated by locals across different regions of the state.
In a comprehensive briefing to the Uikey, BSF ADG Sonali Mishra highlighted the ongoing security landscape within the state. She underscored that there have been reported instances of “resistance against security personnel” in certain localities, with the primary participants often being women from the community.
The potential BSF deployment aligns with recent concerns voiced by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who demanded insights from the Churachandpur deputy commissioner and the SP on the public brandishing of advanced firearms during an Independence Day celebration. The hunt for the culprits continues, with security forces scouring the neighbouring hill forests where the perpetrators are speculated to be hidden.
Meanwhile, there’s a sigh of relief for over 200 Meiteis, who had sought refuge in neighbouring Myanmar to elude the ethnic turmoil in Manipur. After a harrowing three months, they have returned safely. Their immediate needs of food and medical aid are being catered to by the military and local government.
