Manipur government to dismantle illegal bunkers

IMPHAL — Manipur government has planned to destroy all illegal bunkers in the state. The army will initiate the move with the support of central armed police force and state forces from July 5 onwards.

A decision to this effect was taken during a unified command meeting in Imphal on Monday.

Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, disclosed this to media person during a press conference this evening. He informed that around 2000 state forces will start patrolling in the foothill and periphery areas. Besides, he also informed that security forces would be deployed to enable the villagers take up the seasonal agricultural activities.

Biren Singh also informed that the normal classes for students from classes 1 to 8 in the state would resume from July 5 onwards. The press conference was attended by as many as twenty legislators including ministers.

Meanwhile, police sources informed that suspected armed miscreants from the hills and burned down some farm houses in Manipur’s Imphal West district today. The incident took place at Leikinthabi and Chirik villages under Sekmai police station around 5 am.

“Today suspected armed miscreants fired from the adjoining hill range towards Leikinthabi and Chirik villages Imphal West,” stated Manipur Police in a press note issued today. It claimed that some armed miscreants came down and burned down some farm houses in the Chirik village.

Following the incident, operation was immediately launched in the area by state police and central forces, it stated.

On Sunday, three village volunteers were killed in an attack by unknown miscreants in Khoijumantabi, a village situated on the boundary of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts.

In the intervening night of July 2 and July 3, suspected armed miscreants fired from the adjoining hills towards Phougakchao Awang Leikai and Kwakta villages, the press note added.

In another incident suspected armed miscreants fired from the abandoned Napat village and Tangjeng Ahallup areas of Bishnupur towards Khoubuk and Tangjeng Khunjao area of Kakching on Sunday. Kakching district police launched an operation and the situation was put under control, it added.

The statement added that the situation was tense in some places with sporadic incident of firing and congregation of unruly mob during the last 24 hours. However, the situation was normal in most districts.

About 118 checkpoints were installed in different districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley and police has detained 326 persons in connection with violations in different districts of the state. The checking was intensified round the clock in order to prevent unwanted incidents, it further added.