Imphal, Aug 10 (IANS) In a significant move to assess and further strengthen the state’s security and law-and-order situation, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday chaired a Combined Headquarters (Unified Command) security meeting, officials said.
A senior official of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that during the meeting, held at the Civil Secretariat here, the Chief Minister reviewed the prevailing law-and-order situation and other related security aspects across the state.
The meeting also extensively discussed the security scenario along the National Highways and the measures required to ensure the safe movement of passengers and goods vehicles.
The Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) are the two crucial lifelines of Manipur, connecting the landlocked state with the rest of the country. Since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, movement along NH-2, which passes through Kangpokpi district, has remained severely affected due to law-and-order issues, intermittent blockades and security concerns, causing hardships to commuters and affecting the transportation of essential commodities.
The high-level meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Chief Security Advisor to the Manipur government Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Police Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police, Intelligence, Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo, Inspector General of Assam Rifles, South, Major General Gaurav Sharma, General Officer Commanding of the 57 Mountain Division Major General Subhankar Basu, Inspector General of CRPF Rajendra Narayan Dash, and several other senior officials.
Senior officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), intelligence agencies and other security organisations operating in the state also participated in the meeting and reviewed the overall security preparedness.
According to officials, the Unified Command meeting focused on maintaining peace, improving coordination among security agencies, strengthening intelligence gathering, and ensuring the continued movement of people and goods along the key transport corridors.
Following the Unified Command meeting, the Chief Minister also chaired a separate high-level meeting with the same top security officials and representatives of transporters to discuss the early resumption of the Imphal-Guwahati and Imphal-Dimapur bus services.
The meeting reviewed various security arrangements and confidence-building measures required to facilitate the safe operation of passenger bus services on the two important routes.
The resumption of the two bus services was jointly announced by Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Independent MLA Haokholet Kipgen of Saitu Assembly Constituency during a programme held at mountainous Kangpokpi district headquarters on August 8.
The proposed resumption of bus services is being viewed as an important step towards restoring normalcy and improving connectivity between Manipur and neighbouring states – Assam and Nagaland — after prolonged disruptions caused by the ethnic unrest.
Although no major incident of violence has been reported in Manipur during the past nearly two months, the Combined Headquarters (Unified Command) security meeting assumes significance in view of the government’s efforts to normalise the situation and further strengthen security operations against militants, armed groups and other inimical elements. Officials said the state government remains committed to restoring normal life, enhancing public confidence and ensuring a secure environment for the movement of people and goods across the state.
–IANS
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