MHA team reviews security situation
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 05 2014 : Against the backdrop of the indefinite blockade imposed by United Naga Council (UNC) long the national and state highways, a high-level official team from Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which was sent from New Delhi today conducted a series of meeting to review the security situation in the State.

Consequent to these meetings, the Government of Manipur has decided to relax the prohibitory orders clamped in Ukhrul town from 6 am to 6 pm daily starting tomorrow.

The MHA team led by Prakash Mishra, Special Secretary (Internal Security) and Rajiv Gouba, Additional Secretary arrived here today.

Joint Secretary, in-charge of North East affairs, Shambhu Singh, who is also a part of the team, arrived here yesterday.

Shortly after arrival, the visiting Central team met the outgoing Governor VK Duggal in the morning and held security review meetings at the Chief Minister's conference hall and the Chief Secretary's hall, Old Secretariat.

Prakash Mishra, Seretary (IS) MHA , Rajiv Gauba, Addl Scretary, MHA, and Sambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (NE), MHA with Chief Minister, Manipur at his office Pix - Arunkumar Thongam (DIPR)

The Central team also met DGP Shahid Ahmed and other top officials of police and paramilitary forces at the Raj Bhavan to assess the security situation and evolve strategies to deal with the blockade.

Governor Duggal, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also in charge of Home, were also present during the meeting.

The MHA team left Imphal at around 5:30 pm today.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao at the airport, Prakash Mishra, Special Secretary (Internal Security), assured that the people in the valley districts of Manipur would not be made of suffered on account of the UNC-sponsored blockade along the National Highways and State Highways passing through Naga inhabited areas.

Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary, in-charge of North East affairs, MHA, informed that efforts would be made to hold talks with the blockade sponsorers to understand what their demand is and in case of necessity more paramilitary forces would be provided to ensure free transportation of essential goods to Manipur.

It may be noted here that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier on September 3 reviewed the situation in Manipur and assured full assistance to the state government to ensure normal life.

UNC began the blockade yesterday in protest against the killing of two civilians in police firing at Ukhrul town on August 30 during a rally against the imposition of Sec 144 CrPC.

The strike by UNC includes a ban on all national projects being taken up in Naga inhabited areas of the State.

Meanwhile, briefing media after a series of security review meetings with MHA officials, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam informed that the prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC enforced in the strife-torn Ukhrul will be relaxed from 6 am to 6 pm daily from tomorrow.

Gaikhangam, however, made it clear that this relaxation will depend on the law and order situation, and the State Government can withdraw the relaxation any time if the law and order deteriorated.

The Deputy CM said that Section 144 of CrPC was imposed in Ukhrul following the killing of an ADC, Ukhrul Member on July 12 by some armed militants to protect the life and properties of the people.

Contending that the rally held in Ukhrul town on August 30 in which two lives were claimed in police firing was not a peaceful one, the Deputy CM pointed out that protestors went rampage attacking the police personnel with stones, seizing their service weapons and hurting many of them.

He said the Government is yet to ascertain who killed the two civilians since reports were received that several protestors were armed with guns during the rally spearheaded by the United Naga Council (UNC) .

But the Government will carry out probe into the killing, he added.

Gaikhangam reiterated that NSCN-IM so far has committed 250 different crimes including killing of many political leaders and security personnel.

The outfit also attempted to assassinate many more, he said and informed that the state Government has apprised the MHA team of the crimes committed by NSCN-IM.