Guwahati: Bogged down by challenges of effective management of multiple security agencies in one area, the authorities in trouble-torn Manipur have decided to redeploy the forces by confining one particular force in one specific district or more, depending on the availability of forces.
Pointing out that it has now been decided to give responsibility of certain districts to one single force rather than deploying columns of various forces at different places in a district, security sources at Imphal said that idea of making this arrangement was largely aimed at to improve coordination among various forces and cover the vastness of the topography.
Pointing out that this will strengthen the command and control structure as well as facilitate smooth logistics management, security sources said that if Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts are given to the BSF, it will alone be held responsible for lapses and thus will remain prompt.
Moreover at the same time, it will be easier for the commanders to place and manage the forces on the ground as there will be a single command structure for the entire area, security sources said, adding that in the present structure--- a lot of energy was going in coordinating the forces.
Currently, there are close to 40,000 central force personnel in Manipur. These include the Assam Rifles, the Indian Army, the BSF, the CRPF, the SSB and the ITBP. In any fringe area in a district, currently, a mix of all these forces is deployed. For example, if the Army is manning a fringe area in Moirang, just a few kilometres ahead at Torbung, it is the Assam Rifles. In between both BSF and CRPF deployment can be seen.
About the proposed unified command of security forces for the state, security sources said that it would not only require deployment of more forces, particularly Army but at the same time in absence of Armed Forces (Special Power) Act , there are many operational challenges for the Army to operate in civilian areas.
Security sources said that they are also trying to create some buffer zones in between areas of two communities to check the retaliatory violence. Pointing out that the Hraothel incident where two Meitei civilians died on Thursday happened when Kukis retaliated to a Meitei mob trying to burn their houses, security sources said that the Meitei action was also a result of some Kukis trying to burn Meitei houses in another area.
Regretting that this spiralling cycle of retaliatory arson and violence was the biggest challenge, security sources said that the idea of establishing buffer zones in between the areas of two communities may help security forces in breaking this cycle of retaliatory actions.
Meanwhile state authorities have further extended the ban on internet services in the state.
