Imphal, February 03: Even as the initial fear that prevailed at Pallel area regarding bird flu outbreak following discovery of sudden deaths of domestic fowls has subsided somehow, alert security personnel manning National Highway 53 prevented chicks from being smuggled into the State capital today.

Following the outbreak of avian influenza in West bengal and its rapid spread, Government of Manipur had banned import of poultry products including chickens into the State since January 25 .

However, some traders reportedly attempted to breach the prohibition only to be foiled by the security personnel who detected over 6120 chicks caged in 120 baskets being ferried to market places at Keithel-manbi this afternoon.

The seized poultry items subsequently handed over to State's Nodal Officer of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department Dr K Gopal will be culled and buried at Porompat tomorrow.

Earlier in the morning, personnel of V&AH Department rushed to pallel after receiving information of atleast five fowls perishing at a backyard farm.

However, initial examination of the samples by experts of the Deptcame to light that the cause of the deaths was the relatively harmless Gumboro disease.