Correspondent
IMPHAL, January 24
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]midst the high security measures taken up by the state police and other para military forces to prevent any unwanted incidents in the run up to the Republic Day celebration of the country in Imphal, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) suspected to be planted by the militants were detected by Assam Rifles from different places of Bishnupur district this morning, reports said.Sources said a team of 6 Assam Rifles posted at Sendra detected an IED from Ushoibung area of Bishnupur District at around 6:30 a.m. this morning, while another IED was also detected by the locals of Torbung at the same timing. The two IEDs were disposed by the Assam Rifles bomb disposal team.
State police commandoes, in association with the para military forces deployed in the State, have been conducting regular combing operations in and around the Imphal town since the last few days to flush out the anti-social elements in view of the Republic Day celebration in the State.
It may be noted that the Coordination Committee (CorCom) of Manipur based armed groups namely Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup,People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak Party (Pro), Revolutionary People’s Front and United National Liberation Front and five other North East armed groups have jointly called a boycott of Republic Day celebrations and a general strike on Republic day in the entire region.
The ‘general strike’ on January 26 will begin from 1 AM and end at 5 PM and cover all forms of transportation, movement of vehicles, entertainment including cinema and theatre shows and all activities of trade and commerce, according g to a ‘solidarity statement’ which was made available to media houses here today. However, the media, medical services and religious ceremonies shall be kept outside the purview of the general strike, according to the statement.
