Manipur govt, Army differ over attack on defence personnel

The Manipur government and the Indian Army appear to have different opinions on whether the attack on security personnel was a result of intelligence failure or not. While Manipur government feels there are ‘lessons to be learnt’, the Army has ruled out any intelligence lapses.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh while talking to reporters after offering tributes to the martyrs categorically urged the Centre to immediately start dialogue with Myanmar government where several banned militants groups are reportedly based and have formed a joint platform that unleashed the deadly Chandel attack.

He also felt that the international border with Myanmar should be first sealed and then a crack down should be launched.

Sources told Deccan Herald that Manipur government felt that there were lapses in intelligence coordination.  “This is part of intelligence onus. They (Indian Army) should learn a lesson,” Ibobi told a national news channel in Imphal.

Meanwhile, the Army has rejected any intelligence failure. “It is not right to straight away say it is a case of intelligence failure. We keep on getting intelligence and we act on them. Many incidents get prevented too,” said Major General Bipin Rawat, GOC, 3 Corps.

The martyrs were accorded farewell with full national honour at Imphal. All the 17 bodies were flown to New Delhi from where they would be sent to their native places. On martyrs’ body was flown to AP earlier.