Imphal, January 18 2010: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today called on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram at New Delhi and the two leaders jointly reviewed the law and order situation in Manipur.

The two leaders also discussed expansion of the area to be covered in the border fencing along Indo-Myanmar International boundary over and above the steps being taken up for erecting fencing within 10 kms of the border on Manipur side.

According to a highly placed source from New Delhi, the meeting between the Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister began at around 11 am today.

Chief Secretary of the State DS Poonia and DGP Y Joykumar accompanied the Chief Minister during the meeting.

Apart from reviewing the law and order situation in Manipur thoroughly, the Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister also discussed the action plan prepared by the State Government to curb extortion activities of the UGs.

In view of the intelligence inputs that the insurgency problem in Manipur remains unabated as the UGs are taking shelter in neighbouring country Myanmar from where they carried out their activities, the discussion of the two leaders gave due weightage on giving special attention by the Assam Rifles in guarding the border area.

Early completion of the process being made for erecting border fencing within 10 kms on the Manipur side and expansion of the area to be covered by another 370 kms were also featured in the discussion.

The meeting also discussed on strengthening all the police stations both in the hills and the valley district by ensuring deployment of at least 40 personnel in each police station.

In the meeting, the Union Home Minister also gave his assurance of extending every possible assistance from the side of his Ministry in connection with opening banks in 19 unbanked blocks of the State.

Apart from discussing the issue related to the steps being taken up for holding peace talks with KCP (MC) Lallumba group, today's meeting also reviewed the guidelines on whose basis all the armed cadres of the UG group would be made to surrender to the Government.

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