Imphal: Manipur Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh has termed the recent attack on CRPF personnel at Naransena in Bishnupur as ghastly and said that the perpetrators will pay a heavy price as per the law of the land. Sub Inspector N. Sarkar and Head Constable Arup Saini of the 128th Battalion CRPF lost their lives in a bomb attack carried out by armed groups at their post located at the 2nd IRB Battalion Camp in Naransena Maning under Moirang Police Station in the early hours of Saturday.
A tribute-paying ceremony for the two slain CRPF personnel was held with utmost honor and respect at Imphal International Airport on Saturday afternoon before their mortal remains were flown to their native places in West Bengal. Top security officers, including Manipur DGP, took part in the ceremony.
Speaking on the sidelines, former CRPF chief Kuldiep Singh assured that the perpetrators would face the full force of the law. He said the attack took place in stormy weather conditions amid the darkness of the night. He informed that militants fired on camp inmates before security forces retaliated, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities among personnel. Regarding responsibility for the attack, he stated that investigations were still in the nascent stage, refraining from naming any specific group. He stressed that whoever was responsible would face severe consequences, with the government mobilizing all agencies to apprehend the perpetrators.
Expressing concern over the unexpected attack on Central security forces, the Security Advisor said it was the first instance of such an attack on security forces who have come from faraway places to maintain peace. It was unexpected of neither the Meitei nor the Kuki militant groups to attack the central forces as the forces were deployed as neutral peacekeepers in the state. He also expressed concern over the shift from targeting national infrastructure to directly attacking central forces, stating that such actions cannot be tolerated.
It may be mentioned that two other CRPF personnel identified as Inspector/GD Jadav Das and CT/Aftab Hussain sustained injuries in the incident. They were rushed to RIMS hospital in Imphal, and their conditions are reported to be stable.