The Assam Rifles has raised alarm over the modification of civil vehicles to resemble Assam Rifles vehicles in Manipur.
It has held Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs) responsible for it.
It has written to the Manipur police over the issue, IE reported.
The report mentioned the move comes days after the Manipur police were informed by Central intelligence agencies that miscreants were using camouflage uniforms to carry out violence in the state.
The report said the Assam Rifles had written to the SP, Churachandpur, on September 18 about the development.
“It is reliably learnt that few Meitei miscreants with the help of VBIGs have acquired many used TATA-407 (trucks) from civil market and have converted them to resembled the TATA 407 vehicles being used by the Assam Rifles by painting and putting the Assam Rifles insignia,” the report quoted the letter.
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It added that the vehicles are located in “the general area of Kakching”.
The letter requested that the matter be relayed to the SP, Kakching, stating that “conversion of civil vehicles to look like Assam Rifles’ vehicle clearly shows the nefarious intention of VBIGs to tarnish the image of Assam Rifles or utilise the same vehicle for anti-national activities”, it mentioned.
The recent violence in Manipur has spiked over the arrest of five people who were arrested after being found to be in possession of firearms and wearing camouflage uniforms.
Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s office announced that security forces will start a “strong and comprehensive search operation” in 15 days to recover illegal weapons not surrendered by then, it said.
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“The state government is willing to take a considerate view for the persons submitting such illegal weapons within these 15 days. At the end of the 15 days, security forces, both of the Centre and the state will undertake a strong and comprehensive search operation all over the state to recover such weapons, and all persons associated with any illegal weapons will be dealt with severely, as per the law,” read a statement by the Chief Minister’s Office, the report mentioned.
It reiterated statements being made by the police since the last one week that “there have been reports of extortion, threats and abduction by miscreants/groups using illegal weapons”.
“This is a serious matter and the state government will take strong action against such miscreants/ groups in any part of the state,” it added.
