Manipur VIP house guards withdrawn

IMPHAL, April 30: In accordance with an order issued by the Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, static house guards posted at the quarters and official residences of several ministers, MLAs and high ranking officials located at Babupara have been withdrawn from this morning. According to official sources, the withdrawal order does not cover the house guards of VIPs listed in the Z category. Escort details of all VIPs have also been left untouched. Top security officials said that as alternative security arrangements, three checkpoints, to be manned by Manipur Rifles personnel have been set up at the entrances to the Babupara VIP colony, including one near the state guest house, another near the SIB unit branch at Babupara and a third near the Puja Mandir. The sources said the decision to reduce the number of security personnel posted as static guard was taken because of the need for extra security personnel for counterinsurgency and highway, escort duties. The sources disclosed that altogether 240 MR personnel have been deployed as house guards for 30 protectees in the Babupara area. Of these, after withdrawal, 20 personnel each will be posted at the three check posts, while another 20 will act as a mobile patrol on the eastern side of Babupara, along the Imphal riverbank. A team of 40 MR personnel have also been stationed permanently at the 1st MR as an emergency reserve for the VIP area. The remaining withdrawn security personnel will be utilised for counter-insurgency and highway escort duties, particularly for oil tankers, the sources added. It is worth mentioning here that the Centre had several times admonished the state over the excess utilisation of security personnel for VIP and ministers' security.