The Manipur State Police personnel are facing operational issues with their wireless handheld sets, amid attacks by Kuki Militants in Jiribam district including ambushes on central forces which have resulted in fatalities.
As per sources, the Wireless Repeater Tower Jiribam District Police was installed inside the campus of Jiribam Police Station. However, the Cyclone Remal on April 26 destroyed the tower, rendering the static wireless set, vehicular wireless set, and handheld wireless set non-functional.
Engineers of Manipur Police Telecom Organisation shifted the wireless repeater tower at 7th IRB campus in Uchathol recently.
After the repair, the static and vehicular wireless set regained signal and resumed normal functioning.
However, the handheld wireless set, unfortunately, only operates within short range on the Common Direct Channel and does not function on the long-range POL JBM channel. As a result, police personnel have had difficulties in communicating for reinforcements.
It may be mentioned that during the July 14 ambush by Kuki Militants at Mongbung under Jiribam Police Station, a police officer was observed using his mobile phone instead of the handheld set to communicate with his ten personnel, instructing them to cease firing.
