Imphal, November 12 2009: With a view to ensuring an Imphal city free of all kinds of anti-social elements, and to control violent protests, the state government has decided to open 39 permanent frisking/checking pickets at selected strategic points.

The government decision of opening the frisking and checking pickets manned by civil police assisted by Village Defense Force (VDF) have already started according to Imphal west senior superintendent of police, L Kailun.

So far at least 15 pickets have been opened and started conducting frisking and checking.

Each picket is manned by 20 to 25 personnel of civil police and assisted by Village Defense Force (VDF), the Senior SP.

He also claimed that because of these new police pickets, so far agitators could not disturbed conduct of classes in schools located in the areas where the pickets opened.

It also prevented attempt to set ablaze schools in Imphal areas.

Mention may be made that at present frisking and checking of intrusion of anti-social on important transit routes to Imphal city are conducting by setting up temporary frisking and checking points manned by Manipur Rifles and IRB personnel to ensure security of the people.

MR and IRB are currently detailing at several points mainly to the routes leading to Imphal city for close vigilant to the movement of anti-social elements.

Personnel of the 1st MR are detailed at Kalimai, Bapupara, Keishamthong round the clock and at MU gate from 6 am to 9 pm.

Personnel of 1st IRB are detailed at North AOC from 6 pm to 7 pm and 6 am to 9 pm at Khongnang Ani Karak and Lamphel Sanakeithel Fisheries Crossing.

3rd IRB personnel are detailed at Iroishemba from 6 am to 9 pm while personnel of the same battalion are detailed round the clock at Tera Bazar.

Personnel of 4th IRB are doing their duty at Keishampat junction and Kwakeithel from 7 am till 9 pm everyday, 5th IRB at Uripok Canteen from 6 am till 9 pm and 24 hour at Raj Bhavan while 7 MR is deploying round the clock at Khurai Lamlong Bazar.

The police pickets opened and to be opened are not only mean for checking militants but for prevention of any other violence agitations and protest which are frequently witnessed in the greater Imphal area and the capital city of the trouble riddled state of Manipur, the official source further disclosed.

Imphal city where most of the important government offices and big business centres concentrated is the hub of militants carrying out extortion, according to intelligence report.

Even though, police department has taken various measuresto prevent militants activities, attacking government officials and individuals residences on extortion demand yields little as the same continue unabated.

Most of the frisking pickets are to locate at main roads leading to Imphal city like the Tidim road, Mayai Lambi Raod, Imphal Moreh road, Imphal Yairipok road, Imphal-Porompat road, Imphal Tinsid road, Imphal-Pangei road, Imphal-Dimapur road, Thangmeiband Watham Leirak, RIMS road, Imphal-Kanchup road, Imphal-Patsoi road on NH-53 etc.

The opening of 39 permanent frisking/checking pickets is also another effort of the government to check militant activities in the capital city area and government has also approved police department to create 975 posts to meet the additional manpower in opening the pickets, the official disclosed.

Out of 975 post approved for creation, 39 are post of sub-inspector, 78 are for assistant sub-inspector and the rest 702 are head constable and constable.

Revamping of Special Branch of the Manipur Police on the model recommended by Union Ministry of Home Affairs is also underway, the official said adding that government has agreed to create another 252 posts for CID (Special Branch) including a post of SP and to DSP.

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