Imphal, December 22 2008: Taking a serious view of the bomb attack at the Raj Bhavan by the proscribed KCP (MC) yesterday, the Cabinet which met at the Chief Minister's Secretariat today at 4 pm unanimously decided to form a Committee to review the security at Raj Bhavan and submit a report within one week's time.

Earlier in the day, a high security meeting was held wherein it was decided that the Special Security Group of the Central Industrial Security Force would be deployed to provide protection to the Chief Minister.

The Cabinet which met later in the day also discussed providing security to the Governor by the Special Security Group.

The matter will be put forward to the Union Home Ministry for due approval.

Talking to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that the Committee will be headed by ADGP (Intelligence) A Romenkumar.

The Committee will study the security measures that can be taken up for Raj Bhavan.

It will study the possibility of physical construction, which will include the construction of higher walls, installing CCTVs at vantage points, putting up watch towers at strategic points along the compound wall of the Raj Bhavan, study the lighting facilities and forward suggestions to keep the place and its surroundings well lit, said the source.

Another important point that the Committee will study is the proximity of several Government offices to Raj Bhavan and if necessary see whether the offices can be relocated to ensure the security at Raj Bhavan.

Some of the important Government offices located near Raj Bhavan include Treasury, State Museum, State Central Library, Education Department, Archives and Social Welfare Department.

Meanwhile an official statement issued from the office of the Chief Minister said that the Cabinet met today and condemned the bomb attack at the Raj Bhavan.

The Cabinet also reviewed the law and order situation and reiterated its determination to completely eliminate such incidents from taking place in the future and directed all law enforcement agencies to take up extra measures to bring the culprits to book and to prevent occurrence of similar breach in law and order forthwith.

The Cabinet also took note of the incidents of attacks on certain offices and officers by extremist elements and directed all the law enforcement agencies to deal with cases in the sternest possible manner, added the statement.

Earlier in the day a high level security meeting chaired by the Chief Minister today decided to step up operation against the underground activists in the State.

According to a reliable source, the meeting attended by Principal Secretary (Home) DS Poonia, Additional DGP (Intelligence) A Romenkumar, IG (Law & Order-1) M Karnajit and SPs of the four valley districts took serious note of the bomb attacks at the Raj Bhawan yesterday evening.

Apart from discussing measures to strengthen the security arrangements at Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister has also issued instructions to all the SPs concerned for stepping up operation against the UGs.

Meanwhile, information received from the Imphal West District Police said that after yesterday's twin bomb attacks, three Commando teams have been deployed for the security and protection of the Raj Bhavan at three directions and personnel of the 1 MR have been posted in front of the official residence of the Governor.

The overall security measures of Imphal city area has also been beefed up, the source added.

The source, however, conveyed that even if the Government had discussed installation of CCTV cameras in Imphal city area in view of frequent violent incidents, no steps have been taken up so far to implement the same.

Talking to The Sangai Express, a police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, disclosed that communication equipments currently being used by the police and particularly the commandos have come out-dated and the training imparted to the commandos who have been pressed into the service of combating the insurgents is wanting.

Even if the commandos are entitled to the use of night vision equipments during their operation against the UGs, the same has not yet been inducted and used, the police officer said, while pointing out that in States like Andhra Pradesh where there is the problem of Naxalites, the communication equipments being used by the Grey Hound Commandos are not only superior but they are also being supervised separate by an IG.

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