The 'true' story of Drones hangama ... no Drone .... no Rockets says - former Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen P C Nair, who retired recently.
"It's indigenous kind of weapons or barrels where they put .... and they fire. Do you know most of the times the ammunition get blasted in the barrel itself. I know of various instances where the man who fires got killed".
"There is a Chinese company DGI which delivers Drones to you at your doorsteps on demands," Lt Gen Nair (Retd) told a private TV channel. "This is happening in Myanmar".
To a question, he said, "Once this news came one media channel contacted me and I said .... I am not really surprised because there is a background of those being used extensively in Myanmar. This background I knew... and because of the open ethnicity and open border".
"I have confirmed from officers and friends on ground and I have conformed (even) from the army chief, actually there is no ammunition dropped," he said.
"The footage.. the pictures going round are from Palestine and Myanmar. I have said this in my earlier interviews also. I have about 35 to 40 videos on my mobile... all false...different countries".
Blogger with Assam Rifles personnel: File Snap
"But what get propagated is it's all happening in Manipur....I am repeating, no ammunition got dropped ... All media - print and medium have gone ballistic saying Drones....Many experts speaking about ramifications. Yes, ramifications will be there if Drones are used".
He was specifically asked, "Are you saying there are no drones in Manipur". The General (Nair - retd) responded saying: -
Drones are used for multiple purposes -- they are used for photography, videography in agriculture, General Nair pointed out. He also added, "The Assam Rifles and Indian army have shot down at least 30-40 Drones". He also stated that there are lot of false narratives at play. At one place, he said, Assam Rifles personnel were exchanging/handing over ration but it has been portrayed differently in some videos.
"There are drones ... but I am clarifying there are no drones which are used to drop ammunition.... So read one of the newspapers in Manipur, it said a woman who died and the daughter who got injured were hit by bullet (casualty of bullet injures) and not sharpnels".
Answering a series of questions, he said the Assam Rifles have been castigated for "no fault of ours".
"Soldiers and officers of Assam Rifles are doing what is supposed to be done by the book"," he said adding, "They are not doing any kind of favour to anyone".
"History will judge us better than what is now coming out in the media".
"The large amount of flak that we are facing is because of wrong reportage.... second the wrong social media photos and videos".
He also explained difficulties central forces like the Assam Rifles face when it comes to de-notify areas --where the provisions of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) do not work.
ends
"I am here in Manipur since last two days.
ReplyDeleteToday I have flight for Guwahati.
Here I found everything is fine. Some women mother were seen in a group with Play card in a waiting shed as protestors, some students were also seen standing in group in city area. Situation is normal but due to curfew Shops in city area were lying closed except shops of essential items. Movement of vehicles & public are minimum but normal. Schools are closed. Media hype is too much. -- V. B Bhattacharya