Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh highlighted on the floor of the House on Thursday the possibility of replacing Assam Rifles with other central forces for border guarding duties soon.
He was replying to a supplementary question raised during question hour by opposition MLA K Ranjit on the alleged inaction of Assam Rifles during aggression by the Kuki militants.
The chief minister, who is also the in-charge of Home, admitted that there are some suspected officers of Assam Rifles who are siding with Kuki militants, however, he stated that it will be unjust to blame the entire forces of Assam Rifles.
Regarding the viral video of Kuki militants carrying out an atrocity to a bullet proof vehicle of Assam Rifles in Moreh, which the forces abstained to act back, the chief minister stated that investigation has been initiated by the authority to find out the reason behind the situation.
Pointing out that the central forces are ineffective to stop firing in the hot spot areas, the same MLA, in this regard, also raised another supplementary question on the reason for not deploying at least 6,000 to 7,000 state forces from among the above 40,000 state forces in the hot spots which are limited to around 10 locations.
Replying to it, the chief minister stated that deploying state forces alone in this situation might portray a communal image.
He maintained that combined forces of both the centre and the state have been deployed at over 100 strategic points of peripheral areas.
Moreover, state forces are well deployed at Moreh town and at Churachandpur, he said, citing the recent retaliation to mobs by state forces at Churachandpur incident of attack at SP and DC Offices.
The chief minister even argued that the firing and violence at peripheral areas have reduced, however he admitted that some splinter groups are trying to create problems, which the security forces are acting immediately.
Regarding a starred question on the details of the forces deployed at Moreh town, the chief minister refused to give the answerer openly, citing the national security issue.
For deployment of security in other areas of Manipur, he informed that a total of 198 coys of CAPF along with 147 to 153 columns of Assam Rifles and Army were deployed as per the formation of deployment.
Regarding another starred question raised by the same MLA on the resettlement initiatives for the displaced victims, Biren replied that the state government had launched the Scheme for Permanent Housing for the displaced persons whose houses had been burnt down and damaged due to the present law and order crisis.
He said, moreover Scheme for Interim Relief to people whose house had been burnt down and damaged amounting to Rs 1 lakh per family had been approved and 25 per cent advance had been sanctioned.
Some of the displaced victims whose houses were not affected have started resettling, he said, adding that the steps for resettlement are being taken up after making necessary security measures by the respective district administrations and police.
In another starred question raised by opposition MLA O Surjakumar which was similar to the previous question, Biren replied that so far the government has identified a total of 13,274 structures destroyed and gutted during the ongoing crisis and assessment and identification is still ongoing.
He said, disbursement of partial compensation in the form of permanent housing started to those who are ready to move to their original places after proper verification under the scheme of permanent housing.
Fifty per cent advance for construction of houses had been released to 139 families and sanction has also been issued for disbursement of the same to another 472 families, he added.
Replying to a supplementary question raised by MLA Th Lokeshwar on any room for improvement of the prefabricated houses housed by the displaced inmates, the chief minister replied that the government will do the necessary very soon to facilitate the inmates.
