Imphal/Tamenglong, December 11 2010: Taking into account the bandh and boycott called by some civil organisations to protest against the Chief Minister's visit tomorrow, elaborate security arrangements has been made in and around Tamenglong district headquarters.

Security has also been tightened along the route from Imphal to Tamenglong district hqs as Chief Minister is mostly likely to travel by road.

If he so chooses the Chief Minister along with some of his ministers will be airlifted by an MI-17 helicopter of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for which standby pilots are already stationed at 57 Mountain Division headquarter, Leimakhong.

If the weather is not conducive for a flight, CM and his entourage will travel by road, an official source disclosed saying that additional security forces have also been deployed along NH-53 upto Khongsang then to Tamenglong district headquarters.

Additional DGP, Nunglepam Samananda who is the overall in-charge of security arrangement is stationined at the district HQs along with his junior officers.

Security has been tightened in Tamenglong district as Manipur Chief Minister is visiting the district headquarter amidst the bandh and boycott called by civil organisations backed by the United Naga Council (UNC) demanding a separate administration for the Naga dominated hill areas in Manipur.

The 7th State Level Orange Festival 2010 began today at Tamenglong district headquarters amidst the bandh and boycott called by Naga Youth Front and Zeliangrong Boudi.

The Chief Minister will be chief guest on the concluding day tomorrow.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up for the visit of the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs who will be attending the concluding function of the Orange Festival at 10 am tomorrow.

A team of police commandos comprising personnel from Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal district and Bishnupur along with personnel from 4th, 6th and 7th IRB, 11 Assam Rifles and Manipur Rifles including newly recruited Village Defence Forces (VDF) have been deployed in and around the Tamenglong district HQs and the function site of the festival.

On the other hand, normal life was partially paralyzed due to the 48-hour general strike called by Naga Youth Front against the visit of.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, ministers and MLAs.

Due to the general strike, inter-state buses, trucks and other vehicles were off the road on NH 53. No untoward incident was reported on the first day of the general strike.

The first day of the two-day festival was marked by a seminar for orange growers at Indoor Stadium. The seminar which is a part of the festival organised by Horticulture and Soil conservation in collaboration with the district administration was held at the Indoor Stadium.

Tamenglong Deputy Commissioner K Panmei formally opened the seminar in which 400 orange growers participated.

The theme of the seminar was scientific plantation and management of orange orchards in Tamenlgong district.

In his speech as chief guest K Panmei said that the dying of oranges which is a major problem for the growers can be prevented with scientific methods.

He asked the growers to collect quality seeds and generate new plants so as to solve the decline of citrus fruits in the district.

He also urged the participants to take the maximum benefit from the seminar and to apply the knowledge earned when they go back to their villages.

The orange festival was organised for the benefit of growers, promotion of tourism, handicrafts and for orange marketing.

The festival will also promote cultural integrity, K Panmei said.

He also expressed his gratitude to the growers and the public for participating in the seminar inspite of the bandh and boycott called by NYF and Zeliangrong Buadi.

Experts and scientists from Indian Council Agriculture Research, ICAR and Central Agriculture University, CAU talked as resource persons in the seminar during the technical session.

Related to the orange festival Advent Christmas was held in the afternoon, organised by Town Churches Union Tamenglong and Zeliangrong Evangelistic Fellowship under the sponsorship of DC Tamenglong.

The programme was attended by people in their hundreds.

In the evening rock concerts and rehearsals of "orange queen" were held.

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