Assam Rifles director general Lt Gen P.C. Nair on Monday lauded his troops for their “tireless efforts” in curbing violence in strife-hit Manipur and “maintaining” the state’s integrity despite “facing wrongful propaganda from individuals and groups with vested interests”.

Nair’s assertion came amid renewed demand by leading Meitei-based organisations such as the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) for “immediate” withdrawal of the country’s oldest paramilitary force from the state and the “expanding” role of the CRPF in Manipur in maintaining order. The Meitei groups have been accusing the AR of allegedly siding with the Kuki-Zo community in the ongoing unrest.

The state has been in turmoil since the ethnic conflict involving the Meiteis and Kuki-Zos erupted on May 3, 2023, leaving at least 229 dead and over 60,000 displaced.

While praising his men and officers for their “unwavering dedication to ensuring a secure environment” in the Northeast and J&K by responding to multifaceted security challenges “with professionalism and determination”, Nair acknowledged the tireless efforts of the force in Manipur.