Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, AUGUST 14
Highly controlled security arrangements have been made in view of Independence Day celebrations on August 15 in Manipur.
For ensuring peaceful Independence Day celebrations, security has been stepped up with deployment of forces at sensitive places and police have remained vigilant in important places.
Police have been conducting intensive combing operations in many places of Imphal to nab militants during the last one week to foil any subversive design. The CorCom, a conglomerate of major militant outfits in Manipur, has called for a 12-hour boycott of the Independence Day celebrations in the state.
Militant outfits from the northeast region have called for a 12-hour boycott of the Independence Day celebrations.
A joint statement issued by the outfits has said a general strike will be observed from 1 am to 5:30 pm in the entire region on the Independence Day.
The outfits are CorCom, the Hynnewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) of Meghalaya, the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT).
However, essential services such as emergencies, media and religious activities will be exempted from the strike, according to the statement.
Conducting verification and vehicle-checking drives have been intensified in Imphal where the main function would be held. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh would hoist the National Flag at the 1stManipur Rifles parade ground on Friday.
Elaborate traffic arrangements have also been made to ease traffic congestion and ensure safe and smooth flow of traffic during the Independence Day celebrations.
Non-locals detected without valid documents:
Twenty four labourers including four child labourers who came to Manipur without proper documents were detained by the locals of Thangmeiband today. Later they were handed over to the Joint Students’ Coordinating Committee. A police team led by Officer in Charge of Imphal Police Station came to the AMSU office and handed over the detained labourers to the Capital Company a construction firm currently engaged at Yurembam Power Grid site. In a press conference held prior to the arrival of police team at the spot, Co Convener of the Joint Students’ Coordinating Committee Angamba said that the 24 labourers were brought by a Gauhati bound night super bus bearing registration number AS01/9777 at around 3.30 am this morning. They don’t have proper documents while some of them possess fake certificates. Four of them were under fourteen years of age. We will hand over the four child labourers to Child Line for further action, he added.
However just after the press conference a police team led by OC Imphal West and two Sub- Inspector rank officers came and took away the labourers. Some officials of the Power Grid also came to the amsu office. OC Imphal West also refused to hand over the four child labourers to the Child Line and also informed the members of Students’ committee that he is taking up steps under the direct instruction of Chief Minister and Director General of Manipur.
