SSPs, COs to be stationed along highway
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 21 2011: To ensure the safety of the vehicles plying along National Highway 37 (ImphalJiri Road) for lifting essential goods in view of the indefinite economic blockade imposed by SHDDC and counter economic blockade by UNC as well, the State Government has announced the arrangement for deployment of Senior SPs and Commanding Officers (COs) on ROP duty all along the National Highway.

This arrangement is in addition to the security forces being deployed from Jiribam to Keithelmanbi for all types of goods carriers.

In this regard, Director General of Police, Y Joykumar issued an order on September 18 detailing the names of the police officers and their subordinates for deployment on ROP duty as well as the areas to be covered by them.

Meanwhile, president of Transporters and Drivers' Council (TDC) H Ranjit has informed that empty trucks would be leaving Imphal for Jiribam tomorrow to lift essential commodities including petroleum products.

According to the order of the DGP, Additional SP, Jiribam would be utilising available manpower including 5 MR personnel at Jiribam to be deployed for ROP duty from Jiribam to Makru which is a distance of 31 kms.

From Makru to Oinamlong, which is a distance of 20 kms, CO 5 MR and his available manpower would take over the ROP duty.

From Oinamlong to Kaimai, which is a distance of 14 kms, it would be the responsibility of CO 7 IRB and his men to ensure the safety of the vehicles.

Security personnel getting ready to escort vehicles on NH-37

From Kaimai to Barak, which is a distance of 16 kms, CO 6 IRB would be deployed along with his available manpower on ROP duty.

From there, CO of 8 IRB and his available manpower would take over the duty from Barak to Kambiron, covering a distance of 6 km.

From Kambiron to Nungba, which is a distance of 12 kms, it would be the responsibility of CO of 2 IRB and his available manpower to ensure the safety of the vehicles.

From Nungba to Khongsang, which is a distance of 15 kms, CO of 4 IRB and his available manpower would be deployed on ROP duty while from Khongsang to Irang, which is a distance of 9 kms, CO of 1 MR and his men would take over the task.

CO of 3 IRB and his men would ensure safety of the vehicles in between Irang and Awangkhul, which is a distance of 20 kms.

From Awangkhul to Noney (20 kms), it would be the responsibility of Deputy CO of 7 MR and his men to ensure the safety of the vehicles.

CO of 2 MR would be deployed along with available manpower in between the stretch of the National Highway from Noney to Tupul on ROP duty.

The distance between Noney and Tupul is 9 kms.

From Tupul to Kotlien, which is a distance of 22 kms, CO of 8 MR with available manpower would be deployed on ROP duty while Senior SP (Imphal West) and his available manpower would be deployed to ensure the safety of the vehicles from Kotlien to Keithelmanbi, which is a distance of 12 kms.

Instructing that the ROP team should take position at their respective location before reaching the convoy of the empty/filled vehicles and should be withdrawn only after the convoy cross their respective areas of responsibility, the order of the DGP further pointed out that detailed ROP team should be equipped with anti-riot equipments and they should be briefed properly about their duties before departure and debriefing be carried out after returning from duty.

On the other hand, president of TDC H Ranjit has informed that for lifting essential commodities including petroleum products, empty trucks would be leaving Imphal for Jiribam tomorrow and all the drivers should line up at Keithelmanbi.

Disclosing that the Government has communicated to the TDC on compensating the owners of the trucks which have been burnt during the blockade, Ranjit has also appealed to the truck owners concerned to come to the office of TDC in this connection.

He informed that one crane from the side of Transport Department, another from the side of TDC as well as one JCB and one ambulance of TDC always accompany the trucks every time JCB and one ambulance of TDC always accompanied every time security escorted trucks leave for lifting goods as precautionary measures.

Moreover, the Government has been extended full support to the TDC in this regard.

In addition to an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 lakh given to the family members of a driver who lost his life during blockade, the Government has also extended a Grade-IV post to the bereaved family, Ranjit pointed out, while recalling an earlier instance in which some unscrupulous members of an unregistered body swindled Rs 50,000 which was provided by the Chief Minister for assistance to injured drivers.