Guwahati/New Delhi
Security forces on Sunday conducted search operations in vulnerable areas of five districts of troubled Manipur as part enhanced security arrangements in view of the call for a strike on Independence Day by some Imphal valley-based banned organisations. The forces recovered arms and ammunition in the search operations.
Rehearsals for I-Day celebrations were held on Saturday at Peace Ground in Churachandpur district’s Tuiboung area. Churachandpur is one of the worst-affected due to the ethnic strife. As many as 21 parade contingents of BSF, police, students and Assam Rifles participated in the preparations.
In Imphal, while temporary gates have been erected and hoardings put up to celebrate Independence Day, security measures have been significantly heightened after several militant outfits like Coordinating Committee (Corcom), called for a general strike on I-Day from 1 am to 6.30 pm
Corcom includes banned groups including United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and PREPAK. Two more proscribed outfits in Manipur have also separately called for a shutdown on August 15.
“Search operations were conducted in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Imphal-West, Imphal-East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts by the state police and central security forces and recovered 12 arms, six ammunitions and eight explosives,” the Manipur Police said on X (erstwhile Twitter).
MEANWHILE
The CBI is set to investigate nine more cases related to Manipur violence, which will take the total number of cases probed by the agency to 17. Any other case related to crime against women or sexual assault may also be referred to it on priority. The CBI has so far registered eight cases which include two related to alleged sexual assault on women in Manipur. It is in the process of taking over nine more cases.
