Imphal, July 28: Contributing their mite in the ongoing fight against further spread and containment of Avian Influenza outbreak, security forces have intensified the vigil over any possible attempt to smuggle out domesticated fowls beyond 5 km radius of the affected area.

Acknowledging the logistic support of the security forces, officials of the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry (VAH) maintained that the situation is almost under control and culling of the domesticated fowls is being carried out on fast pace by the VAH personnel within the designated 5 kms radius areas.

Inspector General of Police S Dinokumar Singh, who is also looking after the law and order situation in the valley areas, said the police personnel have been keeping vigil to detect any possible attempt of smuggling out domesticated fowls from affected area.

'Whenever out men detect such movement, the domesticated birds are seized and the same handed over to VAH authorities at once for doing the needful', the police officer said, adding that besides deployment of security personnel at strategic points to foil smuggling out of birds, mobile teams are fanning out in and around the affected areas.

Additional SP of Imphal West Md Jalil, who is the nodal officer of the district responsible for the detection of such unauthorised movements, said 'we discharge out duties in the most effective manner so as to ensure that no birds moved out from the affected areas'.

SP of Imphal East L Kailun informed that apart from engaging mobile teams to detect such movements 'we also stationed our men at certain transit points at Irilbung and Lamlai area'.

Lamlai Road leads to Ukhrul district while Irilbung leads to Yairipok and Thoubal districts.

SP of Thoubal district Dr S Iboch Singh said over 200 fowls brought from Imphal were seized by the police and the local people at wangoi and Sekmaijin area yesterday and the same handed over to the VAH authorities.

VAH officials said the police have been extending its fullest co-operation in the ongoing surveillance exercise by way of seizing the illegal transportation of fowls and handing over the same to the Department.

The seized domesticated birds are culled and buried, they said, while informing that RRT teams have culled 9472 birds on Thursday and 16,000 yesterday.

Meanwhile, in support of the Government order, the Imphal Municpal Council (IMC) has imposed a total ban on transportation of poultry, poultry meat and other poultry products within its jurisdiction with immediate effect.

Though there is no report of affecting human being, the State Health Department has also been stepping up its surveillance of health examination of the people living within the radius of 5 kms of the affected area.

The number of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) has also been increased from 10 to 40.

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