Manipur: GPS-enabled highway patrol vehicles flagged off

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Oct. 5 (EMN): Five months after the introduction of the first highway patrol in Manipur, 12 more similar GPS enabled highway patrol vehicles of Manipur police were flagged off in a move to secure the state’s three supply routes-NH 2,NH 39 and NH 102 in five districts on Tuesday.

The formal flagging off ceremony of the dedicated highway patrol consisting of three each for Tamenglong and Noney districts, two each for Kangpokpi and Senapati districts and two for Tengnoupal district, was held at the gate of Chief Minister’s official bunglow in Imphal.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with ministers Letpao Haokip (Tribal affairs & Hills),H Dingo(Social Welfare),Khashim Vashum(Transport),Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba,MLAs K Robindro(Mayang Imphal) and Kh Ibomcha(Lamlai) besides top police officers of the police department were present on the occasion.

Addressing the flagging off function, Biren Singh stated that the GPS enabled highway patrol vehicles were launched to enable quick response from the police to any incident that takes place along the national highways in the state.

Maintaining that law and order of the state had significantly improved with the tireless day and night service from the police side and also with the support and cooperation of the public, he said there is now no need for security convoys for transportation of oil tankers as of now.

He further informed that construction of 34 police stations along the Indo-Myanmar border from Behiang to Jessami had started, and added that with all such initiatives, the state would be able to check and stop illegal immigration and drugs trafficking along the border areas.

Later in a tweet, he wrote, “To further enhance security and safety on our highways, 12 more GPS-enabled vehicles for Highway Patrol, Phase – III were flagged off from my secretariat today. The state govt has been taking up these security measures to ensure advancement in trade and tourism in Manipur.”

Earlier in his welcome note, the state DGP (in charge) Christopher Doungel said that the GPS enabled highway patrol vehicles would not only check crimes and extortion, but act as confidence-building measures and maintain a better relation between the police and public.

It may be mentioned that 14 GPS enabled highway patrol vehicles entitled for highways across four districts — Kangpokpi, Senapati, Tamenglong and Tengnoupal — were flagged off on three occasions in May and June this year.