The Assam rifles have sealed off the area, and on July 11, 1987 an extensive combing operation was launched with the code name "Operation Bluebird" with a view to genocide under the cover of recovering the looted arms and ammunition. Operation-Bluebird was carried out in surrounding thirty villages of Oinam- Oinam, Thingba Khullen, Thigba Khunou, Khabung, Sorbung, Ngamju, Purul Akutpa, Purul Atongba, Koide Maiba, Phuba Thapham, Phuba khuman, Liyai, Chingmei khullen, Chingmei khunou, Phaibung khullen, Phaibung khunou, Lakhamai Sirong, Sirong Shofii, Kodom Khravo, Khongdei khuman, Khongdei Shimgphum, Khonggei Ngawar, Thiwa, Ngairi Khullen, Ngairi Leishang, Ngiri Raiduloumai, Tingsong and Khamson. The Operation carried out for nearly four months lasted till the end of October 1987.
Within a few days of launching the operation , the Assam Rifles shot dead fifteen persons after subjecting them to inhuman torture. There were serious of reports of villagers being subjected to all kinds of cruel inhuman and degrading treatment by the Assam Rifles. The whole area was imposed with curfew. The villagers were made to stand in the open, exposed to torrential rains and scorching heat for weeks. The Assam Rifles went from house to house searching and looting valuable things of the villagers. People were not allowed to go to their fields and to tend their cattle's, thereby millions worth rupees of agricultural crops were destroyed. The Assam Rifles, chasing up and down the villagers, grouping them beating and torturing the able-bodied young man after stripping them naked before the public view as dreaded criminals, confined the mammoth in the concentration camp and kept them for days together without food and water, and not even the infants, the sick, and the aged men were spared. Many people were shot dead, many adults and babies died due to constant harassment, forced starvation and denial of medical aid and many died of shock seeing their dear ones tortoured to death. Hundreds of villagers were severely beaten and subjected to third degree method of torture. Men were blind-folded, hangd upside down, buried alive, given electric shocks, tied four limbs, kept for days together and dragged around at times, put chilly powder to the eyes and nostrils, beaten with Rifles butts, wooden logs, iron rod, lathis from foot to head, beaten leg on the table, crushed hand on the ground which leading to haemotysise, bone fracture, head injury, boxed on the face, chest, ear, pierced with needle or nails which caused many to hearing impairment and fractured ribs and many maimed and handicapped for life. Two women were forced to gave birth in the open air in-front of the Jawans,. mothers were forced to work for the Assam Rifles on the day of delivery, hundreds of villagers were forced to labour for the Assam Rifles for months without payment. Many houses were burnt down, several churches and schools were dismantled. Interrogation were made at gun-point, inserting pistol in the mouth. Pointing at forehead and heart etc. In such manner, the Assam Rifles had tortured the innocent public on the plea of searching for the lost arms.
Many public leaders, political leaders, journalists, student leaders,had voiced their concern and sent representation to the government. However, no official commission of enquiry or even an administrative investigation was forthcoming. The leaders coming to see the people were tortured and sent to jails on false charges. The Assam Rifles had completely disregarded the civil administration and ran a parallel administration in the area. The civil law had ceased to operate in Senapati District of Manipur. The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police were wrongfully confined, humiliated and prevented from discharging their duty by the Assam Rifles and the Chief Minister was made helpless in protecting the villagers from the Assam Rifles' atrocities. Thus the Assam Rifles overthrew the civil government and ran a Nazi type of despotic government in the area which have taken a heavy toll of many lives and devastated immeasurable amount of properties.
• The Assam Rifles have killed 27 innocent people after subjecting them to inhuman torture of which 21 were shot dead after torture and the rest died due to forced starvation, denial of medical aids in the concentration camp, and shock of torture.
• Three women were raped, five women were sexually molested two women were forced to get delivered child before the public view, pregnant women were forced to use as potter.
• 340 persons were beaten and tortured in third degree methods of various inhuman manners, 96 persons were arrested and detained at their camp for weeks in inhuman condition.
• 125 residential houses were burnt and 172 houses were dismantled, 10 churches and 6 schools were dismantled
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