Imphal, September 22: Federation of Regional Indigenous Society (FREINDS) intercepted a group of foreigners sneaking into Manipur from Silchar side and handed them over to the custody of the police.

Addressing a press conference in this connection today, general secretary of the Society Joy Chingakham informed that on receiving report of some Non-Manipuris/ foreigners coming to Manipur from Silchar side, volunteers of FREINDS stayed alert near Jiri parking at Sagolband Moirang Leirak and the intruders were rounded up in group from a tourist bus (Rajdhani Travels) being registration no.MN01937.Although the information received by FREINDS put the total number of foreigners sneaking into Manipur to 60.There were in all 56 of them only in the bus, Joy said, adding that some of the foreigners might have alighted on the way before reaching Imphal.

Although the seat capacity of the bus was only 35/40, all the 56 non-Manipuris/foreigners have boarded the bus, Joy informed, adding that during the course of interrogation, the bus driver disclosed that all the non-Manipuris have boarded the bus from Motinagar of Silchar.

Out of the 56 non-Manipuri intercepted only a few of them could understand Hindi while the rest do not know Hindi nor Bengali.

It is very likely that all of them are Bangladeshi infiltrators, Joy said.

According to those who can converse in Hindi, they have come in search of work and they carried a document (permit) signed by one Officer-in-Command, Joy informed.

Suspicious of the whole matter, all of them were later handed over to the custody of the police, he added.

Newly constructed Kumbi Nagar Panchayat building inaugurated: A newly constructed building of Kumbi Nagar Panchayat has been inaugurated today.

The total estimated cost of the work funded by MAHUD is said to be around Rs 3 lakhs.

However, the flooring and ceiling of the building is yet to be carried out.

The inaugural function was attended by PDA Chairman Dr Kh Loken as chief guest and MANIDCO Chairman N Mangi as president.

Speaking at the occasion, Lokhen assured that the remaining work on flooring and ceiling of the building would be executed with the required fund from MAHUD very soon.

Mangi informed that plans are afoot for renovation of the building of the health centre at Kumbi, construction of a RCC bridge over Khuga river at Kumbi Bazar area in place of the existing wooden bridge and repairing of the roads.

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