IMPHAL, January 25: Speaking to media persons at the closing function of the 2nd State Level Tribal Cultural Festival, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangnam said that police are taking every step possible as precautionary security measures in the run up to the Republic day function.
Saying acts of terror are happening `everywhere`, he said that the Government of Manipur is not making any excuses by saying so. “We are taking every step possible from the side of the Government and the acts of setting off bombs or IEDs are their attempts to show that they exist,” he said.
Regarding the blast within the area of the 1st MR, Gaikhangnam said there is no failure of security but that it raises a big question of how it could have occurred in such place. He said that the act would not have been possible without help from inside.
There was an explosion inside the 1st MR complex this morning at 7:27am near a pond behind the parade ground.
The parade ground is the gathering point for the march past contingents of the state Republic Day celebration.
He has already asked the head of the police department to make an investigation and send a report, he added.
On the Kuki public bandh and the resulting petrol crises in the state, the Deputy Chief Minister said that it is but natural that when the public hears about a bandh, they worry over getting petrol and other essential items.
“Rather than imposing bandhs, it will be better to engage with talks. No basic ground rules for talks can excuse bandhs for meeting their demands, ” he said while appealing to people not to create any issues to break the state adding, “Our state is very small and it’s better to live with peace and harmony to become a prosperous state.”
