Steps being taken to transport essential commodities on NH-53
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 08 2010:
Even as NSCN-IM leader Th Muivah is waiting for an opportune moment to enter Manipur while still camping at Viswema village in Nagaland, the Government of Manipur has decided to drop the plan of sending reinforcement to Mao gate.
A reliable official source said that since the strength of Manipur Police Commandos, specially trained to fight underground rebels, has suddenly decreased in the valley districts as they have been deployed at Mao gate, the activities of outlawed elements have increased in these areas.
Therefore, half of the police commandos deployed at Mao would be withdrawn while the other half would be still deployed there.
However, it may take at least one or two days in translating the government decision into action, the source said.
Today, GOC 57 Mtn Divn, Maj Gen DS Hooda went to Mao in a helicopter to take stock of the situation there.
He met a number of people there and talked to them in order to pacify their temper, reports received from Mao said.
Tomorrow, IG AR (South) Maj Gen CA Krishnan, Chief Secretary of Government of Manipur, DS Poonia, Commissioner, Government of Manipur, Moses Chalai, IAS would be going to Mao.
They would meet public leaders and try to bring about a solution to the prevailing tension.
Meanwhile, taking serious view of the hardship being faced by the people of the state in the wake of the indefinite economic blockade called by ANSAM and other like minded tribal organisations against the ADC election, the State Government has started considering other means to bring essential commodities to Manipur.
At the same time, the reinforcement teams which were sent to Mao after the clash at Mao gate, but could not cross Senapati due to too many obstructions, were called back today.
The half of the state force teams presently deployed at Mao gate would be withdrawn and engaged in providing security protection to the trucks on NH-53.Therefore, the State Government has instructed the top brass of Assam Rifles and Army to send AR and Army troops to Mao as soon as possible.