Myanmar instability, weapons with Manipur warring groups have grave implications for State: Kalita

Eastern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Kalita discusses implications of firearms & instability in Manipur & efforts to reduce violence.

Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita on Dec. 16 said that the availability of a large number of firearms with warring groups in Manipur coupled with instability in neighbouring Myanmar has grave implications for the situation in the strife-torn northeastern State.

He said the Army and the Assam Rifles, in concert with the State police and the CAPF deployed, have been able to control the violence to a large extent in Manipur, where the Meitei and the Kuki communities are at loggerheads with each other.

Also Read: Manipur unrest | The embers of Meitei-Kuki conflict still glow

"The availability of a large number of weapons with both communities, as also the instability in Myanmar across the border, has certain implications for the situation in Manipur," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Army Command, Lt. General Kalita said.

He was speaking to reporters after a wreath-laying ceremony at the Vijay Smarak in the Eastern Command headquarters Fort William in Kolkata on the occasion of Vijay Diwas on Dec. 16.

Stating that though there are chances of some sporadic incidents of violence taking place in the strife-torn State, he said the aim of the Army and Assam Rifles have been to control such occurrences to a large extent.

"While peace and reconciliation process is being carried out by the Central and the State Governments, our focus has been on reducing the violence parameter," he said.