Stage set for R-Day: Harassed public waits to get a sigh of relief
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 25 2014 : Amid tight security arrangements in view of the general strike and boycott call given by various underground organisations, the State administration is all set to celebration the 65th Republic Day of India at the State Capital here tomorrow with great show.

Apart from various Government departments and agencies putting up gates along the route where the march past parade would pass through before arrival at Kangla where the Governor Vinod Kumar Duggal would receive the salute of the contingents, the city has been decked up befitting for the occasion.

Traffic regulations in the city have already been put in place days ahead of the D-Day to ensure smooth celebration of the Republic Day.

However, the traffic regulations in an already congested city and the tight security measures taken up in the name of thwarting any attempt to disrupt the celebration appear to have not gone down well with the public, who felt they have been harassed unnecessarily.

Stage set for R-Day

In addition to the regular conduct of combing operations in various localities were the people are herded off from their respective houses for verification in some open field or ground, stepping up frisking of vehicles and passers-by along the roads have caused certain inconveniences to people who are out on some emergency works.

True to the public complaint, frisking along the roads has been so tight that a joint team of media and members of NGOs returning from Moreh at around 3 pm yesterday after taking part in a consultative meeting on UN declaration of rights of indigenous people and Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 reached Imphal at around 9 pm.

On their way, the Maruti Van in which the joint team was returning was stopped for frisking after every 200 metre all along the National Highway from Pallel to Thoubal Bazar.

To a query on such unprecedented tight security arrangements of stopping a vehicle, which had only been frisked a while ago, the personnel on frisking duty maintained they were only following the orders given to them.

But the most interesting thing about the so-called tight security arrangements along the National Highway was that the security personnel on frisking duty were not at all concerned about those vehicles which simply went ahead after dropping a 10 rupee note.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of Republic Day, 2014, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has reportedly awarded six officers/personnel of Manipur Police Department with the prestigious Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service in recognition of the sincere, dedicated and blemish less service rendered over a period spanning more than 20 years.

According to a statement issued by SP/NAB, Manipur cum PRO, Police Department, the six officers/personnel are Dr Soibam Ibocha Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Imphal; K Pukeho Mao, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Phungyar; Laimayum Amarnath Sharma, Inspector, CID (SB); K Ganglaona Kabui, Sub-Inspector, CID (SB); Kshetrimayum Rajen Singh, Havildar, 1st BN Manipur Rifle and Sambu Lal Pradhan, Havildar, 2nd BN Manipur Rifles.

On the other hand, two persons from Manipur namely Elam Indira Devi in Art (Manipuri Dance) and Dr Waikhom Gojen Meeitei in Literature and Education have been included in a list of 127 awardees of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri announced by the Government of India on the eve of the 65th Republic Day celebration.

Both Indira and Gojen have been awarded Padmashri in recognition of their outstanding contribution in their respective fields.