64,000 SFs tackling 44 UG groups in Manipur

Source: The Sangai Express
23 February 2010 IMPHAL: Altogether 64,000 security personnel including Manipur Po-lice are being deployed in Manipur to tackle 44 different UG groups active in the State.
Meanwhile, as per revised strategy of the State Government to suppress the insurgency movement, commando units have been attached to police stations.
Taking due cognizance of the maximum number of underground outfits operating in the State which is just 22,327 sq kms in area and having total population of just around 25 lakhs, the State Government is devising a multi-dimensional strategy to tackle the insurgents and incapacitate them to the limits.
As per reports available with the State Government, 44 different UG groups are active in the State.
These include RPF/PLA, UNLF, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK (GS), PREPAK (VC) and UPPK.
There are eight different groups of KCP and KCP-MC namely, KCP (Noyon), KCP (KK Nganba), KCP (City Meitei), KCP (Kokkai), KCP (Lamphel), KCP-MC (Lanheiba), KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman) and KCP-MC (Lallumba). PULF has two factions in the name of PULF (Umar Farooq) and PULF (Nasir Khan).
Others include NSCN-IM, NSCN-K, NNC, NNLA, UNPC, MNRF, UTLA, KRF, KNF-MC, KNF-Z, USRA, UMLA, UKRA, ZRF, ZDV-KNO, HNA, KRA-KNO, KNO, KRA-UPF, KNF-UPF, UKLF-UPF, KLA-UPF, KNF(S)-UPF, ZRA-UPF, HPC (D) and ZDV-UPF.
On the other side, to tackle numerous UG groups, eight battalions of army under 57 Mountain Division, 22 battalions of Assam Rifles/paramilitary forces un- der three sectors of IG AR (South), six battalions of CRPF and three battalions of BSF are being deployed in the State.
This is in addition to 30,000 strong Manipur Police including commandos.
The army personnel are being deployed in Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur and parts of Bishnupur district while Assam Rifles are deployed in the remaining districts.
CRPF jawans are deployed for protection of highways and Government buildings/installations. BSF troops are mainly used to provide security cover for the railway project and other Government projects.
In a bid to exert strong pressure on the UG groups outside the Suspension of Operation pact and ceasefire agreement, commando units have been attached to all police stations located in the valley. Earlier, commando units were stationed in only district headquarters.
In tandem with these measures, security forces have been steadily advancing to UG strongholds and are continuing with the area domination exercise. Under the same exercise, security posts are being opened at these erstwhile UG strongholds after driving them off, conveyed a source.