A former Indian Army officer from the state, Colonel (retired) Nectar Sanjenbam has been appointed as senior superintendent (combat) in Manipur police department for a five-year tenure.
Having played a major role in India’s surgical strikes in Myanmar in 2015, he will now help the Manipur government tackle the unrest in the state that has persisted for the last four months with almost 200 lives lost.
The Army officer, who has served in the 21 Para (Special Forces), was appointed by the Manipur government on August 24 with an order issued by Manipur’s joint secretary (home) on August 28 stating that the appointment was made after the cabinet decision of June 12.
Col (Retd) Nectar Sanjenbam was awarded the Kirti Chakra - the second-highest peacetime gallantry award -- and Shaurya Chakra -- the third highest.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Chiefs’ Association (KCA) of Khengjoi subdivision in Chandel district has written to the Director General of the Assam Rifles requesting him not to deploy its unit under the command of a Meitei officer at Sehlon in Manipur’s Chandel district “in the interest of peace and security.”
According to news agency, in the letter, the Kuki Chiefs’ Association said the law-and-order situation in Manipur is still unstable and it can aggravate with a little misadventure and miscalculation on the part of the security establishments.
“We have no intention to interfere in the routine movement of Assam Rifles battalions, but leaving the charge of a unit to a Meitei officer at this time and place will not serve the interest of the public of the area,” the PTI quoted the letter of the KCA as saying.
“We want to maintain cordial relations with the Assam Rifles as usual. We wish our goodwill gesture is reciprocated accordingly,” the letter, signed by the association president, T Sheithang Haokip, added, as per news agency.
