Neutralise miscreants if found roaming with weapons in civilian areas of Manipur: CRPF DG

New Delhi ( The Indian View team) : Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General G.P. Singh has asked personnel deployed in Manipur to “neutralise” miscreants roaming around in civilian areas with weapons.

Mr. Singh made the remarks during an interaction with CRPF personnel in Manipur on Saturday, according to a 6.05-minute video clip seen by The Hindu. He said that discussions were held at the highest levels in the government, and added, “It is expected that there will be a turnaround in the situation in the northeastern State in the next 1-1.5 years.

More than 6,000 police weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition were looted from armouries after ethnic violence erupted in the State on May 3, 2023. Security agencies have consistently flagged the availability of a large number of weapons with civilians as a major security challenge.

In the video, the CRPF officer said that personnel need not worry about firing at miscreants and he, as a DG, would protect any “bona fide action”.

“If you do not fire at miscreants, why has the government given us so much arms and ammunition. I have your back. Till the time I am here, no need to worry about any (legal) action,” Mr. Singh said, referring to an April 7 incident in which CRPF personnel opened fire as a mob stormed the force’s camp at Gelmol, a buffer zone between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas in Bishnupur district since 2023. The firing led to the death of three protestors.