• Retired Army officer who led surgical strike is now appointed as Senior Superintendent in Manipur

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    Retired Army officer who led surgical strike is now appointed as Senior Superintendent in Manipur
    The appointment was made as the N Biren Singh government and the centre made every effort to stop violent incidents in the state...

    Digital Desk: The Manipur government will now be assisted by a retired army general who played a key role in India's surgical strikes in Myanmar in 2015 to deal with the unrest in the state that has claimed more than 170 lives in the past two months.

    On August 24, the Manipur government selected Colonel (retired) Nectar Sanjenbam for a five-year term as senior superintendent (combat) in the Manipur police department. The Army officer, who served in the 21 Para (Special Forces), received both the Shaurya Chakra, the third-highest honour for bravery, and the Kirti Chakra, the second-highest peacetime gallantry award.

    According to an order made on August 28 by Manipur's joint secretary (home), the appointment was made after the cabinet's decision of June 12.

    According to the officer's Shaurya Chakra citation, he "displayed meticulous planning, exemplary gallantry, bold and daring action under most challenging circumstances." 

    The appointment was made as the N Biren Singh government and the centre made every effort to stop violent incidents in the Northeastern state.

    Over the past five days, at least 12 people have been killed and more than 30 have been injured in firing and explosion incidents at the border areas between Kuki- and Meitie-dominated hills and valleys.

    A decision from the Manipur High Court asking the state administration to suggest that Meities be given Scheduled Tribe status resulted in the violence. The All Tribal Students' Union requested a nonviolent demonstration on May 3 in response to this. Kukis and Meitis clashed near the boundary of Churanchandpur and Bishnupur district, sparking the violence that resulted in several fatalities and displaced thousands.