Manipur governor talks on ‘changing security paradigm in NE’

Newmai News Network

Imphal | December 5

 

A seminar on “Changing security paradigm in North East - Implications and Imperatives" was inaugurated by Manipur Governor, Dr Najma Heptulla at City Convention Centre in Imphal on December 5. The seminar was organised by Assam Rifles and Sentinels of the North East under the aegis of HQ Director General, Assam Rifles.

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that the theme of the seminar was appropriate considering regular reports on incidents disturbing social harmony, robbing of peace of the society even on trivial matters or disputes and violence. "Loot, extortion, arson, destruction of properties, subversive activities committed by various unknown miscreants and loss of human lives are well-known consequences of such happenings," she said.

 

Dr Heptulla said that North East India is known for its biological and cultural diversity and the unique Brahmaputra and Barak river system.  It is gratifying to know that the aim of the seminar is to undertake critical analysis of changing security paradigm in North East India, identify implications and imperatives and establish a vision for overall growth and development of the region.

 

The Governor then said that the trends and statistics of the last decade clearly illustrate that the armed insurgency around the entire region of North East has been gradually waning on a scale of intensity.  "This apparent shift in the regional security policy of North East has been largely defined or modeled along anti-insurgency," she also said.

 

According to the Governor, the State of Manipur has been enduring the ill effects of insurgency, which is disrupting the social harmony of the State and having an adverse impact on the economic development of the State. She also said that mounting unemployment, economic backwardness and related issues apart from creating law and order problems also have the potential to affect the internal security of the State. "The State continues to be one of the most troublesome States in the North-East due to all these problems," she added.

 

In recent times, there has been a noticeable change in the insurgent movement, shifting away from the ideology of insurgency and instead indulging in terrorism, planting of bombs/IEDs at strategic locations targeting innocent civilians and individual residences, extortion of money from officials, commercial establishments and vehicles plying on the national highways, etc, the Governor added.

 

According to the Governor, the "pivotal role" played by the Assam Rifles to effectively contain the "subversive and violent acts" of various underground outfits at the long porous international border of 398 km with Myanmar deserves appreciation by one and all. 

 

In the inaugural session, Director General, Assam Rifles Lt Gen Sukhdeep Sangwan gave the welcome address.

 

The seminar had two sessions with different subjects like North East region security environment and challenges and Act East Policy 2.0 and border management.