Imphal, November 03 2008: A HIGH level security meeting under the chair of the state Chief Secretary, Rakesh, while discussing the economic blockade imposed on the NH-39, has asked the security forces deployed along the highway to intensify patrolling on the highway.

Meanwhile, more than 65 Imphal bound trucks carrying goods were stranded at Khuzuma gate in Nagaland near Mao gate in Manipur as the blockade entered the second day today.

The Senapati District Students' Association imposed the indefinite economic blockade along the route effective from mid-night of November 1 in protest against the state government's apathy in improving the horrible conditions of the highway despite repeated appeals of the people.

The high level meeting was convened by the Chief Secretary to review the security scenario in the state after a CRPF battalion has been moved out for deployment in Chhatishgarh in connection with the Assembly election to be held in that state on November 15, official sources said.

Inspector General, Assam Rifles (South), top brasses of the CRPF and army, state principal secretary home, DS Poonia and DGP, Y Joykumar were among others who attended the meeting held at the chief secretary's office chamber.

The meeting after a thorough discussion has asked the security forces deploying along the NH-39 have been asked to intensify the patrolling so that to ensure safely to the truckers and other vehicles ferrying essential commodities plying along the highways.

Mention may be made that while people of the state are facing hardship owing to the suspicion of the services of the inter-state passenger buses in the aftermath of torching of an inter-state bus at Nohorijan on October 23 which also claimed life of two people, the Senapati District Students' Association imposed the indefinite economic blockade effective from midnight November 1 .

A report from Mao gate said that as many as 65 goods laden trucks including 61 tucks and four DI tata carrying essential good items have been stranded near the Khuzuma police check gate, Nagaland till this late afternoon.

Around 30 of them have been stranded there since the commencement of the blockade yesterday.

The number of stranded vehicles is likely to increase as more goods ferrying trucks from different places are arriving there.

Source further said that the high level meeting held today has also discussed re-arrangement among the security forces deploying in the state after taken out a battalion of the CRPF for utilizing in Chhatisgarh which would be held on November 15 .

Altogether seven battalions of CRPF are deploying in the state.

Most of them are deploying at the VIPs residential and important installations of the state government as well as Central government like at the chief minister's bungalow, Raj Bhavan, Radio station, Telephone Bhavan etc.

CRPF authorities have reduced the strength from at least 25 posts to make up a battalion and had already started leaving the state for Chhatisgarh since the last few days, source said.

In the meeting today, other security establishments have been asked to patrol in the areas CRPF guarding and their strength have been reduced considering the prevailing law and order situation of the state, the source disclosed.

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