IMPHAL, Aug 14 : As in the past years, the general strike called by different armed groups operating in the region against the Independence Day celebration of the country came into force from 1 am and will be in force till 6 pm tomorrow.
To thwart any stray incident in the face of the boycott call given by different armed groups, security measures have been beefed up across the State, particularly in the valley area.
DGP LM Khaute told The Sangai Express that the State Police Department began putting adequate security measures in place around 10 days back to thwart unwanted incidents during the celebration.
Apart from conducting cordon and search operations at suspected localities, frisking and checking has been intensified on all the major roads, he said.
The DGP further said that State bomb experts along with Assam Rifles and CRPF bomb and dog squads were also pressed into action to sanitize suspected areas.
Regarding taking photographs of passers-by on mobile phones by security personnel during frisking, LM Khaute said that he had instructed the police officers on duty to ask these people to take pictures from distance to avoid unwanted propagation of the identities of those who are frisked.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi will unfurl the tricolour at Independence Day celebration to be held at 1st Bn Manipur Rifles ground. Later, he will receive salute from different parade contingents of police, CRPF, NCC and students. 4th IRB CO Wurngam Ningshen will be the parade commander of the celebration.
Meanwhile, State bomb experts were seen checking presence of explosives on road sides, medians and drains etc today. A large number of security personnel mostly police, Manipur Rifles and IRB were also seen conducting frisking drives at different areas.
On the other hand, security personnel also checked presence of explosives using metal detectors on the banks of Imphal and Nambul rivers in greater Imphal area.
