Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 09 2009:
In a revised security arrangement after the grenade attack launched by KCP (MC) at Raj Bhavan on December 21, police have blocked the road from Paona Keithel to Governor Road since 4 pm yesterday.
A team of police came to Governor Road last afternoon and verbally intimated the shopkeepers to close the shops located along Governor Road at 4 pm, conveyed one shopkeeper on condition of anonymity.
Another shopkeeper informed that many youths who came along the road were also thrashed by police last night.
"Although they did not say anything when we opened our shops this morning, they (police) forced us to close our shops as the clock struck 4 in the evening", he said.
It is interesting to note that since the evening of the day of grenade attack, one lane of the road located to the southern side of the Raj Bhavan from where the grenades were suspected to have been lobbed, have been closed by police every night.
The road stretch from where the old library building existed to GG Shopping complex of Paona Keithel has been closed since yesterday.
On the other hand, in connection with the road closure, shopkeepers doing business along the road stretch have convened a meeting tomorrow.
Notably, the State Government has decided that no multi-storeyed building should be constructed in the surrounding area of the Raj Bhavan and that no door/window should face the Raj Bhavan.
Earlier, subsequent upon the bomb attack at the Chief Minister's official complex by PREPAK last year, the highway passing in front of the CM's complex was blocked.
But a Court ruling directed the State Government against the same security measure.