New Delhi: Faced with an onslaught of negative social media messages, which put out names of some officers from a Manipur community who are operating in the ethnic violence-hit state, the Army put out a statement Thursday night refuting the “hideous message” alleging favouritism.
“The very officers being discredited have spent sleepless nights, gone without food and water, rescued thousands and have provided refuge to people beyond religion, caste or creed in Manipur,” said the statement by the Dimapur-based 3 Corps, also known as the Spear Corps.
The statement follows social media posts giving out names of 21 officers belonging to one of the two communities which broke out in clashes last month — the Kukis and the Meiteis— who are posted in the Army and the Assam Rifles.
The message on social media said while Director General of Police (DGP) P. Doungel, a 1987 batch IPS officer from Manipur, was removed Thursday for belonging to one of the communities, officers who belong to the other group also need to be removed. Rajiv Singh has been given charge of the post of DGP in Manipur.
“Compounding with casting aspersions on their loyalty and integrity towards the nation, the message is aimed at maligning the very foundation and ethos of officers of Indian Army,” the statement by the Spear Corps said.
Manipur, which has been hit by ethnic conflict for nearly a month, witnessed a spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight. The toll since the violence began has gone up to 87.
The eruption of violence on 3 May followed a solidarity march called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur to oppose the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
It was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land.
‘Attempt to undermine institution that is microcosm of nation’
The Army, which has been deployed in Manipur for evacuation and putting down the violence following requests by the state government, said in its statement, “All ranks of the Indian Army are race, caste, creed and gender agnostic — fair to all and fear none”.
It added that officers and troops of the Indian Army are posted to all parts of the country according to requirement of the organisation, and said that the numbers depicted in the list represent a minute fraction of the total number of officers posted in all formations and units in Manipur currently.
“The (social media) post is an attempt to undermine the institution that is a microcosm of the nation and has never let regional biases interfere in its functioning and Indian Army strongly refutes his hideous message,” the statement added.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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