Escorts of ministers, MLAs restricted from entering festival venue
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 22 2015:
Unlike previous years, escorts of ministers, MLAs and officers are restricted from entering the venue of ongoing Sangai Festival 2015 at Hapta Kangjeibung.
However, escorts of Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and VIPs from outside the State have been permitted inside the venue.
Personal Security Officers (PSO) of ministers, MLAs and officers are not included the restriction.
Meanwhile, sources informed that security has also been beefed up at the Sangai Festival venues and areas near them after the proscribed United Revolutionary Front (URF) and Maoist Communist Party had announced a ban on the festival.
CCTV cameras have also been installed at various places to avoid any untoward incident.
Apart from the Imphal East District Police, police personnel from Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur have been deployed including women police personnel, IRB, and Manipur Rifles to ensure security during the festival.
IGP (Zone-1) of Manipur Police, Clay Khongsai after examining the security measures taken up at Hapta Kangjeibung told Hueiyen Lanpao that Manipur Police have taken up special security measures to counter any incidents as few underground organisations had also threatened and banned the ongoing Sangai Festival.
Paramilitary forces have also extended their help to thwart any attempts to disrupt the festival, added Clay Khongsai.
He also informed that the ongoing Sangai Festival has been held at various venues including Chandrakriti Auditodium, Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen and Manipur Film Development Society Hall.
Providing additional security personnel at various places has been a little task, said Clay Khongsai.
He however, exuded confidence stating that every possible effort has been made so that the festival is celebrated smoothly.