The state government took up the security measures following the failure on the part of the neighbouring NPF led DAN government to regard the official intimation of the Manipur government to defer its proposed visit to the state considering the `sensitive and highly volatile` situation in Manipur, `particularly in Senapati district.
The state government had sent an official letter through the state Chief Secretary DS Poonia addressed to the OSD to Chief Minister of Nagaland, Varghese Mammen over Rio`™s scheduled visit to Senapati to attend a Naga People`™s Front function in Manipur.
According to a highly placed official source, another state cabinet in the morning today further considered the possible outcome of the opening of a regional political party in the state which may result in interference of state politics by an outside party and its effect on the democratic process of secularism in the state.
After the consideration of all possible effects of the proposed visit, the state cabinet in its series of meetings since yesterday further reaffirmed the decision to prevent the entry of the Nagaland ministerial team in the state.
Prior to the cabinet meeting in the morning, another meeting of the Congress legislative party was convened at the official bungalow of the state CM.
The meeting which was attended by the CM and other MLAs of the party including party president Gaikhangam also endorsed yesterday`™s cabinet decision and subsequently decided to intimate the AICC chairman Sonia Gandhi to intervene in the face-off between the two neighbouring states regarding the opening of the NPF in Manipur.
The official source further stated with the state receiving no official replies from the centre till late this evening, the state government has decided to continue pressurizing the centre, until the centre respond to the official request of the state government to intervene on the issue.
With no response from the centre, the state government has decided to stand by its previous decision to prevent entry of the Nagaland ministerial team and as such has stormed the state boundary at Mao gate with state security forces.
The official source further mentioned that a strong team of state forces led by the Additional DGP, L/O, Manipur V Jathang along with full strength of 6th IRB led by its Commanding Officer Lakshmi Prasad, full strength of state Commando Battalion (8th IRB) led by its Commanding Officer N Satrajit have made their initial deployment at sensitive areas of Senapati district head quarter and Mao gate since this morning under the direction of the state government.
On the other hand, the state government observing no sign of changes on the programmes of the proposed visit of the Nagaland chief minister, the state government has made additional reinforcement of state police commandos of both Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishnupur districts led by the concerned district SPs at Mao gate this afternoon to keep vigil at the border area and also to prevent the entering of the ministerial team of Nagaland led by its chief minister Neiphiu Rio into the state tomorrow.
Simultaneously with the deployment of heavy state security forces in the sensitive areas, the state government has already instructed the concerned officers and posts of Assam Rifles located along the National High way 39 from Mao gate to Senapati HQ to remain alert and to extend necessary security assistances to the newly deployed state forces during the course of any newly adopted security strategies at the Mao and Senapati district head quarter areas.
The official source further maintained that above the security reinforcement of the state security forces into the district, additional deployment of five companies of CRFP along with three Mahila Platoons of CRPF were also made this afternoon to prevent any untoward incident tomorrow in the district.
The official source further said, that since the matter is of grave concern for the state, all high ranking state officials including state Chief Secretary, DS Poonia, Special Secy. Home, AK Sinha, Dy. Secy. Home Rehamuddin Choudhuri, DGP, Manipur Y Joukumar, Gopal Sharma, Security Advisor to state chief minister along with the state cabinet ministers have been concentrating at the CM Bangalow since this morning till late night and participating in various level of meeting to chalked out the accurate policies of the state today and waiting for official replies from the central government as well as neighboring Nagaland state government to the official intimation from the state to disallow the entry of the proposed visit of the ministerial team of the Nagaland state led its chief minister Neiphiu Rio into Senapati district tomorrow, the official source added.
The Manipuris are only making themselves miserable, there will be definite counter from the Nagas again. Is this just politics played by the politicians of both the states to benefit few economically powerful business people like last year, or a new popular campaign for the upcoming election as politicians are out of genuine propaganda as the old promised were never kept.