Separate escorts for oil tankers : Kuldiep
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 13 2023:
Kuldiep Singh, Security Advisor to the Government of Manipur, today informed that the Government has provided separate security escorts for oil tankers.
Briefing media persons at the Chief Minister's Secretariat, the Security Advisor said that the Chief Secretary and the IGP (Operations) held a meeting with oil tanker unions yesterday.
Notably, oil tanker drivers are currently on cease work strike after loaded oil tankers were fired at and some of their colleagues were beaten up by unidentified miscreants on Imphal-Jiribam highway (NH-37) a few days back.
He said that 370 loaded vehicles are on their way to Imphal along NH-37 while 250 other loaded vehicles are heading to the State capital on Imphal-Dimapur highway (NH-2) .
Strict security measures have been put in place at all vulnerable locations and security convoy is provided along sensitive stretches to ensure free and safe movement of vehicles, Kuldiep said.
The Security Advisor also conveyed that another suspect in the abduction and cold blooded murder of Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit has been arrested by CBI from Pune.
Informing that the arrested accused has been identified as Paolunmang s/o Luptathang, Kuldiep said that the latest developments and other details of the investigation can be ascertained only after meeting CBI officers concerned.
On being enquired about undue restrictions imposed by Central security forces on media persons from covering Kuki militants' aggression in Sabungkhok Khunou area in Imphal East district yesterday and forced deletion of video recordings, Kuldiep Singh maintained that he received conflicting reports about the incident.
Nonetheless, the matter is being investigated and necessary action would be taken up if any one is found guilty for wrongdoing, he said.
Maintaining that the freedom of press should be ensured under all circumstances, the Security Advisor said that he would raise yesterday's incident with higher authorities of Central security forces.
On being enquired about the prevailing situation in Moreh and Churachandpur, Kuldiep Singh said that RAF personnel were sent to Moreh two days back on receiving reports of torching abandoned properties of IDPs by some miscreants.
With regard to the attack on a combined team of Manipur Police and Assam Rifles in between Lokchao and Khudengthabi yesterday, Kuldiep Singh said that there was no casualty.
He informed that a combined team of security forces conducted search operations at Kameng, Khamran and Mana Ingkhol in Imphal West district from 3 am to 4.45 am today.
The security forces searched about 150 houses and recovered a number of arms, ammunition and other items including three carbines, five carbine magazines, one 9 mm pistol with magazine, three numbers of 36 HE grenade, 67 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, 78 rounds of 0.45 mm, one plastic magazine of INSAS rifles and eight bullet proof jackets.
Search operation was also conducted at Singda Kuki village this morning where one improvised pumpi cannon, two improvised projectile launchers, two muzzle loading rifles, one 0.303 rifle and one lathode bomb were recovered.
Churachandpur district police and security forces conducted a search operation from 5 am to 9 am today during which one 0.303 rifle and one tear gas gun were recovered.
These recovered weapons are among the arms and ammunition looted from Churachandpur district headquarters Arms Kote, said the Security Advisor.
Further, search operations in Charoi Khullen area under Loktak police station this morning led to recovery of one 9 mm carbine with magazine, one 0.303 rifle, sniper rifle with magazine, 90 rounds of 7.62 mm (AK series ammunition), two hand grenades and other items, he added.