IMPHAL, July 22: The state Home Minister Gaikhangam said, he is contemplating a company wise transfer policy of the state Manipur Rifles and the IRBs.
Speaking to members of the media today the Home Minister said, the state Home Department will soon be placing a proposal before the state Cabinet wherein companies of the various battalions of Manipur Rifles and IRB will be transferred in every nook and corner of the state as a whole.
Gaikhangam was reacting to an IFP query about the transfer and posting of the Police Department.
After he took over as the Home Minister, he had come across several instances of MR or IRB personnel of hill based battalions being utilized in the Capital district and other valley districts leaving the hill based battalions short-staffed.
A glaring instance had been the 6th Manipur Rifles based at Ukhrul which was found under-staffed when the Jessami border incident took place.
The Home Minister said, there are about 4000 vacancies in the Police Department which needs to be filled up for strengthening the police presence in the hill districts.
When queried about the lack of state security in hill stations bordering Nagaland where Manipur villagers are often harassed by Nagaland villages in connivance with Nagaland Armed Police Gaikhangam said, opening police stations or outposts in the interior hill areas need the support of either Manipur Rifles or IRB. A realistic strength would be not less than 60 personnel in a police station or outpost.
Asserting that indiscipline in the Police Department Minister Gaikhangam said, authorities are following up the July 19 JNIMS incident wherein some individuals masquerading as MLA Amin Shah of Kshetrigao and his party threatened the JNIMS staff.