Tezpur (Assam): In a Major development in violence-hit Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said the additional security forces were deployed in 38 additional locations.
The Chief Minister informed about the deployment of forces in his press conference at the secretariat. "The state and security personnel comprising CRPF, Manipur Police, Manipur Rifles, IRB, and VDF have been deployed at 38 vulnerable areas", said Singh.
This comes after a BJP MP from Imphal East and Union Minister of State for External Affairs houses were attacked on Thursday night. Singh said the security forces deployed in the 38 locations are Napat, Haotak, Salton Heiyaikon, Saiton Leitanpokpi and others. These are the area where violence has erupted more. He further said that on Thursday a team of legislators from the all political party had visited Guwahati to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and apprise him of the prevailing situation in Manipur.
He informed the media that Shah committed to take action against those who instigated violence in the state. Amit Shah on Thursday said at a government meeting in Guwahati that he would meet different sections of people and appeal to the public to take part in the meeting to achieve a long-lasting solution.
Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles on Friday set up a temporary base along the Mizoram-Manipur inter-state boundary to monitor the situation and maintain peace in the border area in the wake of ethnic violence in the northeastern state, the paramilitary force said in a statement. AR personnel interacted with village council representatives and YMA office-bearers of Khawdungsei and Khakhawn villages and explained to them the establishment of the temporary base near Tuivai Bridge.
They said the reason for establishing the temporary base was to provide protection to the internally-displaced people from Manipur and to prevent the movement of militants and weapons. Engineers and workers of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) also repaired the bridge.
The bridge has now become the lifeline for the people living in southern Manipur, especially in Churachandpur as all relief materials from Mizoram are passing through this route, the statement said. However, there are some unconfirmed reports that the Zomi Revolution Army (ZRA), a militant outfit, is collecting taxes from vehicles carrying relief material to Churachandpur, it said. The Assam Rifles also rescued 188 employees of NHIDCL who were stranded in Sinzawl village in Manipur.
