Government of Nagaland in coordination with the Assam Rifles, IGAR (North) and Nagaland Police evacuated as many as 676 civilians from strife-torn Manipur on Sunday. The evacuees included students, senior citizens, children, and labourers.
The Assam Rifles team was led by Brigadier Ved Beniwal, Dy. IG (IGAR-N).
A welcome reception was held at Assam Rifles IGAR (N), Kohima today. The gathering was addressed by Assam Rifles Inspector IGAR-North Major General Vikas Lakhera, Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton and Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma, IPS.
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State Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton asserted that the state government is coordinating with the Assam Rifles and Nagaland police and informed that, the buses have been arranged for the returnees who will be going to Dimapur.
Patton said that 14 buses will be sent tomorrow to evacuate more people stranded in Manipur and appealed them to be patient as the State government is doing its best to ensure that all are brought safely to Nagaland.
“Till we evacuate all the settlers in Manipur, we are going to send buses,” said Patton.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton speaking at the reception of the evacuees from Manipur on 7 May 2023
As per updates from the officials there are more than 600 people from Nagaland stranded in Manipur.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton in his personal capacity also gave financial assistance of Rs.5000 each to every family evacuated today, as an immediate relief.
Inspector General IGAR (N), Maj Gen Vikas Lakhera said that although there was a slight delay in evacuating people from Nagaland, he maintained that when planning in such an occasion it prepares in totality.
“It doesn’t matter how much time it takes but what matters is every one of our children comes back to Nagaland safely and doing so, we coordinated with everybody. It was a very wonderful teamwork by all the stakeholders,” added Lakhera.
Mentioning that the job is not finished yet, he said, “It’s just the first part, so tomorrow again we will take consolidated trail from the state government and through helpline. We are committed to the people of Nagaland. Till time we are in Nagaland, we are Nagas,” adding that ‘Operation Kohima Calling’ is a success.
Major General Vikas Lakhera and Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma, IPS
Doctor Viprezo from Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) breathed a sigh of relief after reaching his hometown Kohima and said, “Coming back home is such a relieve but out there we had a very tough time because we were cut off from internet and everything not knowing what is going on but we could see all the injured people and all the chaos around, so we were really feeling unsafe out there but coming back to Kohima we feel really relieve.”
Abuvinuo, a Bachelor of Dental Surgery student, RIMS said she is glad that they have reached home safely. She expressed her gratitude to the Government of Nagaland, Assam Rifles, Nagaland Police and others involved in the evacuation process for bringing them back home safely.
‘Operation Kohima Calling’ safely brings civilians to Kohima from Manipur on 7 May 2023
