Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Traffic curbs imposed around chief minister’s bungalow; High level meetings discuss security lapse

I MPHAL, Sep 2: In the follow up to last night’s blast security has been intensified in the surroundings of the chief minister’s bungalow with restrictions being put on the movement of night traffic on the main roads on the western and northern sides of the bungalow. The restrictions will be effective from 6 pm in the evening till 7 am the next day for an unspecified period.

Security was tightened Tuesday in Imphal area specially on roads passing near the chief minister’s bungalow after last night’s lethod bomb attack by the proscribed PREPAK.

A lethod bomb exploded inside the compound of the state chief minister’s bungalow last night at around 8.10 pm. No casualties occurred in the blast.

Two high level security meetings were also held today to review the law and order situation in the state with special reference to the militant activities in Imphal municipal area where the disturbed area status in not in force, a highly reliable source said.

The joint director north east charge, SIB, Manmohon also called on the chief minister, O Ibobi Singh today. Sources said that the two discussed intelligence input on the militant activities.

Meanwhile, the police as part of security measures in and around the chief minister’s bungalow stopped vehicles of all kinds from passing through the two main roads on the western and northern side of the residence effective from this evening.

The night restrictions on the movement of vehicles will be effective from 6 pm till 7 am, said an order of the senior SP, Imphal west, L Kailun today.

As per the order no civil vehicle will be allowed to come from the Palace Gate side towards Sanjenthong and NH-39, as they will be diverted towards Minuthong or Thumbuthong.

Civil vehicles coming from Imphal bazar/western gate of Kangla towards the chief minister’s bungalow on the NH-39 will be diverted towards Keishampat bridge at Nityaipat, and no vehicles coming from Keishampat bridge and Jail road shall be allowed to come on NH-39 towards the chief minister’s bungalow, as they will be diverted towards the north on the NH-39.

Civil heavy vehicles coming from the Indo-Myanmar side will be diverted towards Pishumthong from Chingamakhong crossing or towards Keishamthong bridge from Singh & Co Moirangkhom.

Meanwhile, the first high level state security meeting was held this morning around 8.15 am while the second one was held this afternoon around 3.30 pm chaired by the chief minister O Ibobi Singh.

Many cabinet ministers and high ranking state police officers led by the DGP, additional DGP and IGP (Intelligence) and SPs of both Imphal east and Imphal west attended the meeting.

In the meantime, lapses on the part of the security detailed along the stretch from Palace Compound to Raj Bhavan and on the northern side of the chief minister’s bungalow was suggested to be behind the intrusion of the militants and the subsequent attack, sources said.

After observing the spot inside the bungalow premises where the lethod exploded, an official of the state police intelligence said that the only possible way to carry out the attack on the chief minister’s bungalow was from the main road running on the northern side of the bungalow.

Except from this direction, there was no other way which the militants could escape after carrying out the attack, the officer who did not want to be named said.

The said road is one of the main entry points to Imphal city and passes beside the chief minister’s bungalow from Palace Compound on the east and connects to the NH-39 which runs on the western side of the bungalow. This stretch of road also passes through the southern side of the Raj Bhavan and connects to the Tiddim road (NH-150).

Being a sensitive area, armed police personnel are detailed at five points between the stretch from Palace Compound to Keishampat junction which is around 500 metres. Armed police personnel are detailed in front of Palace Compound, Sanjenthong, Nupilal complex, Raj Bhavan gate and at Keishampat Junction round the clock.

However, yesterday no armed police could be seen on duty in front of the Nupilal complex, Raj Bhavan gate and Keishampat before the attack took place, he said.

He also suspected that the attackers may have intruded from the Palace Compound side in a four wheeler and after firing the lethod towards the bungalow, escaped towards the Tiddim road passing through the road in front of the Nupi Lal complex and Raj Bhavan gate.

Mention may be made that around an hour after the blast took place, Aheiba Angom, a spokesperson of the proscribed PREPAK owned up the attack stating that they done it as a warning to the chief minister, O Ibobi Singh to rectify his misdeeds.

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