Indian Army, AR intensify aerial surveillance in violence-hit Manipur, Indo-Myanmar border

DIMAPUR: The Army and Assam Rifles are said to have intensified employment of aviation assets in order to significantly enhance the surveillance capability in violence-hit Manipur.

A defence release updated that ‘unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and helicopters have been pressed into action for surveillance not only in hinterland but also along the Indo-Myanmar border’.

“Use of the third dimension is of utmost importance in modern military warfare. It gives the security forces a major edge to not only carry out effective surveillance of anti-national elements but also target elements that may harm important installations,” it stated.

The defence release went on to state that employment of these assets are giving a major fillip to the effectiveness of Army and Assam Rifles not only in hinterland, but also for domination of Indo-Myanmar Border to prevent any misadventure by Manipur valley-based insurgent groups staying across the border in various camps.

In another update, it refuted a “fake quadcopter video” alleging the Assam Rifles helping armed persons of one of the communities. Maintaining that it’s done not only to disturb peace in the state but also malign the reputation of the force, it condemned the “baseless allegations by anti national elements”.

It said that the security forces have conducted themselves impartially in restoring law and order in the state for more than four days, accommodating 9,500 people from the Meitei community and 10,000 from the Kuki community, out of approximately 23000 displaced persons, in various Army and Assam Rifles company operating bases/ military garrisons on humanitarian grounds.

It said these figures indicate impartiality and fairness in its rescue operations but there were false rumours about it leaning towards a particular community.

Maintaining that such rumours that tarnish its image and demoralize the soldier should be dispelled, it requested the media, influencers and public refer to official sources for any news or content.