Army organises seminar to foster civilian-military relations

IMPHAL - The Indian Army recently organized a seminar here to foster better relationship between civilians and the military troops operating in the state.

Eminent scholars and the army top brass attended the seminar, which was jointly organized by Manipur University and the Red Shield Division.

One of the suggestions that came up for improving relations was that the army must visit the rural areas.

“The army comes into content (contact) mainly in rural areas and in urban Imphal, this armed forces special power has been removed, the army is little bit more careful while functioning in municipal areas,” said Dr. Priyoranjan Singh, an associate professor at Manipur University.

“So, therefore, I think if the relation between the army and people is to improve, they must go to rural areas,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Major General D. S. Hooda, General Officer Commanding of the Red Shield Division, stated that the army lost many soldiers while discharging their duty in Manipur.

He said that 1,500 charges of human rights violation were filed against the Army out of which 53 were found true, while clarifying that the Army never uses heavy weaponry in counter-insurgency operations.

Civilians attending the seminar said such events provided a good forum for discussions.

“It is being held in the right time, I think, because there are grievances of the people. In such a seminar, people can have the chance to say their grievances; at the same time military people may be having their grievances, or they may want to say something to people,” said Damodar Singh, a reader at Manipur University.

“So if they meet each other, I think, that is a good time to express their views,” he added. (ANI)