No compromise on drugs, poppy plantations, asserts CM
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, January 27 2023: Manipur celebrated the 74th Republic Day with pomp and gaiety and mass participation across the state.

The State Level Republic Day Celebration, 2023 was held at Kangla on Thursday with Governor La Ganesan unfurling the National Flag and taking salute from different march -past contingents.

Chief minister N Biren, cabinet ministers, Lokayuk-ta Manipur, MPs, MLAs, chief secretary, DGP and senior civil and police officials also took part in the celebration.

The celebration began with the Governor inspecting the Guard of Honour accorded by a contingent of 6th Battalion Manipur Rifles (MR) commanded by additional SP (Central Motor Transport Workshop) T Bishwajit Singh.

Later, Governor Ganesan unfurled the Tricolour amidst playing of the National Anthem by 1st Battalion MR Band and then took salute from 76 march-past contingents including different band contingents, commanded by 2nd Battalion MR commandant Victoria Yengkhom.

In all, 20 cultural troupes and tableaux of 14 different departments took part in the parade.

The Republic Day parade began from 1st MR complex, passed through Kanglapat road in front of Raj Bhawan and entered Kangla from its Northern Gate and after giving salute to the Governor returned back to 1st MR parade ground.

Delivering the Vote of Thanks at the 1st MR ground, chief minister N Biren warned that there will be no compromise against anyone found involved in illegal drugs and poppy plantations.

Further highlighting seriousness of the state government's 'War on Drugs' campaign, the CM said that the five Manipur Police personnel arrested recently with illegal drugs have been terminated from service with immediate effect with due compliance with official process.

No one will be spared, be it civil, security force personnel or politician, if found indulging in drug smuggling, asserted the CM, who also maintained that any security force personnel connected with illicit drug trafficking will be terminated immediately from service as per the law of the land, he stressed.

N Biren also wished the peo -pie of the state on the occasion and thanked everyone partic ipating including students, civil police, security forces, ex-servicemen, people from different communities, civil societies, etc., in the successful celebration.

He also recounted participating in the Republic Day march past parade during his college days and reminded that all concerned that it is under the Indian Constitution that the citizens of the country enjoy their rights and responsibilities.

Further stating that India has assumed the presidency of G-20 and that Manipur will be hosting meetings as part of the presidency as in other parts of the country, the CM appealed for support from the people for the successful hosting of the meetings.

"Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Naren dra Modi, India has become a leading nation in various fields including defence production, economy, automobile," he said.

N Biren further mentioned that the centre has included two personalities from the state, Thounaojam Chaoba Singh (public affairs) and K Sanathoiba Sharma (sports) from the state for Padma Shri, both awarded to eminent personalities for their distinguished service in their respective fields.

Meanwhile, during the celebration at Kangla, officers and personnel of Manipur Police, Manipur Central Jail and Manipur Fire Service Department were decorated by the Governor with the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service; Police Medal for Gallantry on the occasion of Independence Day, 2021; Police Medal for Meritorious Service as declared on the occasion of Independence Day, 2021; Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training, 2020-2021; President Correctional Service Medal for Distinguished Service; President Correctional Service Medals for Meritorious Service; and Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service.

DGP (Prisons) & Manipur Police Housing Corporation Limited managing director Christopher Doungel, received the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

Commando unit Imphal West inspector Gunachandra Chanam and 8th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) head constable Hijam Eshworchandra Singh were decorated with the Police Medal for Gallantry.

Police Medal for Meritorious Service was accorded to SP Vigilance & Anti-Corruption S Gautam Singh, DSP/ClD (SB) Th Gojen Singh, Vigilance & Anti-Corruption inspector Konthoujam Bobby, 1st MR subedar Akoijam Bhogen-dro Singh, 1st 1RB subedar Sanasam Raju Singh, MPTC jemadar Konjengbam Pri-yojit Singh, HC/CID (SB) M Parpa Chothe and assistant sub-inspector Imphal West Sarangthem Joychandra Meetei.

MPTC subedar Maibam Babu Meitei, subedar Pot-sangbam Robert Singh, jemadar Lukram Lenin Meetei and MPTC rifleman Kongbrailat-pam Premsunder Shrama received the Union Home Min ister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training.

Retired deputy superintendent N Hemantakumar Singh was honoured with President Correctional Service Medal for Distinguished Service, while chief head warder W Didy-mus Tangkhul, head warder Jilkhokai Touthang, warder Khupzalam Neishil, warder L Robindro Singh and retired chief head warder Thamsel Lamkang were conferred President Correctional Service Medals for Meritorious Service.

Apart from this, fireman M Romendro Singh and Lan-amei Benjamin of Fire Service Department received the Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service.

The 74th Republic Day celebration officially ended with beating of the retreat, declaration of results of competitions and folk dance competition held at Manipur Rifles 1st Battalion parade ground on Friday.

Governor La Ganesan distributed prizes to winners of different categories of the March Pass competition held in the presence of chief minister N Biren, ministers, MLAs and top civil and police officers among others.

In the category of uniform contingent, Combined CDO contingent (Thoubal/ Kakching/Bishnupur) won the competition with the BSF contingent securing the second position and 6th Battalion, MR (Guard of Honour) bagging third position.

For school contingents (Uniform), NCC Senior Air Wing ranked first, 65th NCC Senior Girls second and Sainik School B third position while in College category, Manipur College won the top honours as GP Women College and DM College of Science (Girls) finished second and third respectively.

In the Band Party, Young Eagle Brass Band, Sagolband A; 9th IRB Mahila Band with VDF Band, Imphal West; and Home Guard (Female Band) secured 1st, 2nd and 3rd position respectively.

For gate construction, Department of Tourism topped the list while Forest Department and Social Welfare Department secured 2nd and 3rd position respectively.

For Tableau, Horticulture & Soil Conservation ranked 1st followed by RUSA in 2nd and SAMAGRA SIKSHA, Manipur 3rd in the competition.

In the cultural dance group, Rongmei Cultural Troupe, Noney District bagged 1st position while Meitei Inat Kanba Lup, Khurai Konsam Leikai secured 2nd and Rabunamei Dance Troupe, Senapati District won 3rd position.

Special prizes were also presented to 1st MR commandant; IPR director H Balkrish-na Singh; PWD, PHED and WRD chief engineers, (MSP-CL) managing director, municipal commissioner, IMC, parade commander Victoria Yengkhom, 2nd MR commandant, guard of honour commander T Bishwajit Singh, Addl SP, CMTW and differently abled contingent of Social Welfare department.

Certificates of Appreciation were also given to CM Indigenous Martial Arts Academy, Thang-Ta Loishang Sana Konung and tolst MR Band commander L Brojen.

The Governor also distributed cash prizes to the winners of folk dance competition held as part of the closing function.

The Governor handed over a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh to winners of the competition -Meitei Inat Kanba Lup, Khurai Konsam Leikai for their spectacular Thougal Jagoi.

Cash prize of Rs 75,000 was handed over to Rabunamei Dance Troupe, Senapati District (Mao-Naga Dance) for securing 2nd position and Rs 50,000 to Parbung Hmar Youth Association Cultural Troupe (Hmar Bamboo Dance) for winning 3rd position in the competition.

He also presented red blankets to 14 village chiefs of sev en hill districts namely Chandel, Kamjong, Kangpokpi, Noney, Senapati, Tamenglong and Tengnoupal who came to witness the Republic Day celebration in Imphal.

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