Imphal, December 18 2009: In the wake of the serial killing of migrant workers in the last few days, State police have taken up stringent measures.

So far around 27 non-local people have been killed this year, the latest incident being the killing of two non-local labourers inside their rented rooms in the night of December 16 .

Taking serious note of the unabated killing, State police have heightened security measures.

In addition to tight security arrangement within Imphal city already put in place, police have expanded their vigilance in inter-State bus ticket counters outside the State.

State police will be keeping stringent vigilance at bus counters operating Manipur bound bus services at Kohima, Dimapur, Guwahati and Silchar, said a reliable source.

Police took up the new initiative following reports that anti-social elements have been threatening ticket counters not to issue tickets to non-Manipuris travelling to Manipur.

In a formal letter, SSP Imphal West appealed to his counterparts of Assam and Nagaland under whose jurisdictions ticket-counters are located to provide adequate security coverage to the bus counters as they have been threatened not to issue tickets to non-Manipuris travelling to Manipur.

Meanwhile, in view of of killing non-local workers, the State Govt has opened a relief camp at Dharamsala here.

Around 60 non-local labourers gathered by police from different parts of the State have been put at the camp since last evening.

Imphal West district administration is providing food for the people staying in the camp.

But the authorities have not been providing blankets to cope with the cold season.

Counting the killing of two non-locals on December 16, around 40 non-local people have been killed by unidentified armed persons in the four valley districts in the last two years.

DGP Y Joykumar has already hinted about possible involvement of a UG group in the sporadic killings.

He said that investigation was on to book the culprits.

More non-local labourers are expected to be housed in the camp because of security concerns as one police officer guarding the relief camp said.

The non-local labourers taking refuge at the camp have been considering to g back to their home states in case the killing spree continues.

"We are terrified by the prevailing situation.

If the killings continue, we have to pack for our home state.

We cannot risk our life for some money", said one Subhash Chandra from Motihari district of Bihar.

Saying that they too are humans, he appealed to all concerned not to target them.

Subhash has been dealing in local betel leaves at Leimakhong area since 15 years back.

One Matam Chauhan from UP's Ajamgar district, dejectedly said that he could no longer risk life here.

He is currently working in a brick-field at Sekmai.

Meanwhile, the SSP Imphal West has appealed to all non-local labourers to stay and work within Municipality areas/Imphal Bazar areas only.

A press release issued by the SPP further advised the non-local labourers not venture out in far-flung and interior areas to avoid any untoward incident.

It further appealed to the general public to inform district police about the presence of non-local/migrant workers in their houses/areas/localities on 2450159 (SSP/IW), 2450214 (Control Room), 2450002 (Imphal PS), 2458515 (City PS) and 2414616 (Lamphel PS) so that collective security can be provided.