Imphal, April 15: With the devastating April 13 inferno having destroyed over one lakh books, the State Central Library authorities are set to restore the rare books through contributions of local writers and home collections of scholars.

Strongly condemning the act of arson carried out by MEELAL activists, the Chief Librarian H Devendra informed that a meeting will be convened with the Art and Culture Minister Ph Parijat and Director Kh Sorojini to discuss on stacking the Library racks again.

Disclosing that with the exception of the dish antenna meant for Community Information Centre at the same Library premises, all other documents kept at eight sections of the building have been destroyed beyond redemption, Debendra rued that the incident took place before the books and articles could be shifted to the new building constructed adjacent to the State Archives office.

Highlighting that the act of vandalism had not only reduced to rubble over Rs 10 crore worth of books chronicled and published by the Britishers around 1850 and a large number of other original inscriptions containing history of Manipur as well as invaluable literary works, he said survey would be conducted to trace copies of the destroyed ones in consultation with local scholars, writers and book collectors.

Stating that such processes would be intimated to the Minister during the meeting, the Chief Librarian said that it is the only means to kick start the library again.

Some old texts preserved at the national Library in Kolkata can also be reproduced, he said and conveyed that some copies of the destroyed ones are available at district libraries in the State from where �restoration works could be initiated�.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Sangai Express, the Director General of Police AK Parashar said a meeting was held with all the Superintendents of Police, Commandants of Manipur Rifles and IRB yesterday in the aftermath of the Library burning incident.

The emergency session focused on the law and order situation and the measures to foil act of arsons including attempts to attack Govt institutions by the script agitators, said the police chief who also disclosed that probe would be conducted to detect security lapses.

The two youths arrested by police soon after the burning incident have revealed names of some other persons involved in the criminal act, said the DGP while informing that crackdown against the accused had been launched though these persons had gone into hiding.

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