Imphal: Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing has accused the Assam Rifles of failing to respond effectively to an October 10 attack on Ningchou village near the Myanmar border that left two civilians dead, including the village secretary.
Keishing visited the frontier village on Thursday to assess security vulnerabilities and possible routes used by militants to enter the area. Ningchou is located around 10 km from the international border.
The MLA alleged that Myanmar-based militants had repeatedly targeted border villages, citing previous arson attacks in Namlee, Wanglee and Z Choro. He claimed that Assam Rifles personnel failed to take timely action during the October 10 attack, alleging that they fired shots into the air before withdrawing.
Rejecting the portrayal of the violence as a communal clash, Keishing said the attacks appeared to be part of a deliberate attempt to depopulate border areas. He also raised the possibility that the violence was intended to remove local opposition to border fencing or involved the use of external proxies to portray the frontier as unstable.
Keishing called for the newly deployed International Reserve Battalion (IRB) to be equipped with modern weapons to counter foreign militants. He said he would approach the Chief Minister and Home Minister to seek an immediate upgrade of the battalion’s weaponry.
Police investigations into the October 10 attack are ongoing. The Chief Minister has assured adequate compensation to the victims’ families.