NB Viewpoint | Indian Army did what no one could in Manipur! Brings together Kuki-Meitei during rescue

"Troops reassuring the beleaguered families are already viral on the media. Without making any distinction between the communities, all beleaguered families were evacuated to the safety of the Army and Assam Rifle camps. Some of them are still staying there as the process to send them back is underway" - Defence Sources

"On the first night itself, within Imphal, approximately 2300 civilians were evacuated from violence-hit areas of Langol, Lamphel and Mantripukhri with another around 1700 in Tegnoupal district in Churachandpur, on the first night alone 4600 locals were safely rescued from Khumujamba, Hmar Veng, Saikot and Mantop Leikai" - Defence Sources

"Army and Assam Rifles accommodated people within their garrisons at Mantripukhri, Keithelmanbi, Pallel, Moreh, Leimakhong, Khuga and Veng to name a few amongst many places where ad hoc arrangements were made" - Defence Sources

New Delhi, May 12: The prompt response of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles averted large-scale violence in Manipur, said Defence sources on Thursday (May 11). The important aspect of the entire rescue operation has been that the Indian armed forces were able to bring together both Kuki & Meitei communities during the operation, the two communities that were engaged in violence against each other.

According to the sources, Army and Assam Rifles became the first responders to the request by the state government in maintaining law and order. Despite being deployed outside the municipal limits of Imphal town due to the non-applicability of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), multiple columns fanned out in the city responding to hundreds of distress calls at the same time, the sources said.

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Proactive deployment facilitated faster reaction in de-notified areas of Imphal as also in villages of Churachandpur district where Assam Rifles do not have any Company Operating Base in the vicinity, as informed by the Defence sources.

Also read: 518 stranded people evacuated from violence-hit areas of Manipur

The violence in Manipur had erupted in the immediate aftermath of inter-community clashes in a few districts of the northeastern State amid protests against the inclusion of the majority Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.