More security to check extortion in Manipur

IMPHAL, February 5: The Manipur government has made elaborate security arrangements to prevent frequent extortion by militants from businessmen as well as government officials. While CRPF personnel and policewomen are stationed at all state government offices, commandos in plain clothes have been deployed at major commercial centres of Imphal. This is a part of the 26-point action plan submitted by Chief Minister W. Nipamacha Singh to Union home minister L.K. Advani in New Delhi on January 6. Sources said the Union home ministry has agreed to send two additional battalions of CRPF for counter-insurgency operations in the state. As part of the new security arrangements, one deputy inspector-general of police has been posted in each district. However, Imphal West and Imphal East districts are under a single DIG, the sources added. The joint interrogation centre has been shifted from the Imphal West district police headquarters to the Indian Reserve Battalion's 11 battalion camp inside Kangla Fort. Official sources said nearly 500 police commandos in plain clothes but armed with sophisticated weapons were deployed at major commercial centres here. All phone calls of businessmen, head of government departments and cashiers were being monitored to check any transaction with militants and extortion demands, the sources added. The movements of salesmen and those concerned with money transaction of shops and business establishments are also kept under vigil. Assam Rifles troops have started random frisking of visitors and frequent checking at all government offices to stop infiltration by underground elements. Sources said similar exercises have been conducted in all district headquarters. Progress of the new measures would be reviewed by senior security officials. Police post torched