Nagaland evacuates 676 people from Manipur

Second batch of evacuation on Monday  

Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 8

 A 676 people from Nagaland stranded in violence-hit Manipur were safely brought back today to the state capital Kohima in a coordinated operation by Nagaland Government, Assam Rifles and Nagaland Police. 

The total in the first batch included 341 families, as per the PRO Defence Kohima. 

The retuning civilians who came in buses arranged by the State Government were received at 1st Assam Rifles camp by Deputy Chief Minister & Minister Home Y Patton, Nagaland’s New & Renewable Energy & Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority advisor Nyusietho Nyuthe, Nagaland’s Director of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) Major General Vikas Lakhera, officials of Angami Public Organization (APO), Angami Youth Organization (AYO), Angami Students’ Union (ASU) and others. 

Addressing the reception at 1st Assam Rifles camp, Patton expressed his gratitude to all who contributed to securing the safe return of the State’s citizens from Manipur and called for such collaboration in the future. 

 “Thank you so much for bringing our brothers and sisters back to Nagaland,” Patton conveyed to Assam Rifles, Nagaland Police and the administration.

He further informed that more than 600 persons are still stranded in Manipur and the State Government will continue to send buses to bring them back. 

Another 14 buses will be sent again tomorrow (May 8) for the second batch of evacuation, he added. 

Patton also conveyed special thanks to Brigadier Ved Beniwal, Deputy Inspector General of IGAR (North) for leading “Operation Kohima Calling.”  He led around 80 personnel of Assam Rifles along with State Government officials and police.

The evacuation team also included Weku Zhiemi, SDO (C) Jakhama and SDPO (N) Kohima, Sheta Lohe and personnel from two units of the Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) Nagaland, including a Mahila Battalion. 

Patton extended Rs 5000 for each unit who has been evacuated, to meet the immediate requirements. 

Free bus services were also arranged by the district administration for those people going down to Dimapur today.

AYO and ASU honoured Beniwal, Zhiemi, Lohe and all the drivers of 22 buses, particularly the 19 bus drivers of the 14 buses from Nagaland State Transport, for safely bringing the people home.

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, DGP Sharma also highlighted on the nitty-gritty of the operation and expressed his appreciation to all those involved. 

He also stressed on maintaining peace and not allowing the development in Manipur to cross over to Nagaland by saying that the State don’t want even “single bit” of happened in neighbouring state.

Accordingly, he appealed the evacuees as well as the media to exercise restraint to prevent inflammation of passion and emotion. 

‘You would have gone through trauma and stress, the bad time is passed, don’t recollect those bad memories,’ he urged. ‘We want peaceful Nagaland.’

IGAR North Maj Gen Lakhera, APO Vice President Neivor Rutsa, and General Secretary Neidilhoutuo Sechü, also spoke at the reception and details of gave details of the ‘Operation Kohima Calling.’

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Lakhera told reporters that the Assam Rifles is ready to assist in any matters related with the current crisis and will be part of evacuating process in the future. 

Both Deputy CM Patton and DGP Sharma also clarified on the apparent ‘delay’ in undertaking the evacuation by highlighting the security concerns as well as the logistics involved in bringing a large numbers of people, unlike those from far way states, which may have lesser people stranded.  

Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio took to Twitter expressed happiness over the safe return of the people of the State. 

“I express my appreciation to all those involved in coordinating the process, and to the paramilitary forces, especially the Assam Rifles for partnering with the state government in ensuring the return of our people from Manipur,” Rio twitted. 

‘Operation Kohima Calling’
As per the PRO (Def),  many people from Nagaland stranded in Manipur amidst the undergoing tense situation in Manipur.

In order to evacuate these people safely, Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (North) undertook “Operation Kohima Calling” on May 6.

The operation was led by Brig Beniwal, Deputy Inspector General of IGAR (North) and the Officer led his team comprising of about 80 personnel of Assam Rifles. They coordinated with the State Government as well as States police  and reached Imphal on May 6.

Carrying out minute level coordination, the team started evacuating the people early morning 3 AM on May 7 from RIMS, Central Agricultural University, Manipur University and Koriengi places of Imphal.

The team reached Assam Rifles Camp Kohima at around 1PM.