National Highways to be 'opened' shortly : CS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 23 2025: Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh has stated that the National Highways would be opened with deployment of security forces so that people can move freely without any sense of fear or insecurity.

The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal East distributed bicycles to internally displaced students and handlooms to internally displaced women weavers of Imphal East under the CSR initiative of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited at a function held today at Panchayat Bhavan, Imphal East DC office complex, Porompat.

Responding to queries raised by media persons by the sideline of the function, Chief Secretary PK Singh said that the Government has taken up several measures to bring an end to the current crisis and bring normalcy in the State.

National Highways to be 'opened' shortly : CS

In order to bring peace, the Government has been working to recover all the illegal arms which are in the possession of civilians.

Possession of illegal arms by civilians is a big threat to society, he said.

The Chief Secretary said that the Manipur society may land in a more dangerous situation if the illegal arms are not recovered.

Maintaining that recovery of the illegal arms without any further delay can bring normalcy in the State, PK Singh exuded confidence that civilians who are in possession of illegal arms would surrender the arms to the Government at the earliest.

On being asked on the observation that the timeframe of seven days is too short, the Chief Secretary said that the illegal arms can be surrendered in a day if one intends to.

On being asked when Meiteis can move freely on the National Highways, PK Singh said that the Government has been working to open the National Highways passing through the State so that people can move freely.

Deployment of adequate security forces along the National Highways is almost complete.

Additional forces would also be deployed where they are needed, he said.

He mentioned that goods carriers are still moving on the National Highways.

At the same time, the Government has been working to build confidence between the two communities in conflict, he said.

Chief Secretary PK Singh and Commissioner (Home) N Ashok Kumar graced the function as chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

Speaking at the function, PK Singh said that the Government has taken up steps to allow IDPs go back to their homes/villages with a sense of security.

He exuded confidence that the IDPs would be able to go back to their homes at the earliest.

The Chief Secretary said that the Government is aware of the hardships faced by IDPs in relief camps for almost two years.

The Chief Secretary assured that necessary ration support for IDPs would be released in time.

Construction of houses for IDPs is going on and the Centre would soon sanction necessary funds for construction of additional houses, he said.

With the Government taking up several relief measures for the IDPs, the hardship faced by them is being ameliorated steadily, PK Singh said.

Imphal East DC Khumanthem Diana said that the handlooms and accessories being distributed today would help in mitigating the economic woes being endured by IDPs of Imphal East.

Likewise, the bicycles distributed today would considerably address the inconveniences faced by internally displaced students in going to schools/colleges, Diana said.

Altogether 300 bicycles were distributed to internally displaced students and 150 handlooms with accessories to displaced women at the function.