IMPHAL, Jan 20 - Manipur Police on Monday launched a dog squad in Imphal with four Belgian Malinois dogs and eight dog handlers.
Director General of Police LM Khaute and other senior police officers attended the inaugural function. DIG K Kabib said two dogs will be engaged in drugs-related cases and two for explosive detection activities in the state.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in Manipur, particularly in the twin districts of Imphal East and Imphal West, to ensure peaceful celebration of Republic Day in the border state.
�We have started making elaborate security arrangements for maintenance of law and order in the state in the run-up to the Republic Day celebrations,� said DGP Khaute.
�Almost on a daily basis, cordon and search operations are being carried out, frisking and checking have been stepped up and district-level security coordination committee meetings have been initiated so that the combined effort of the security forces and police brings positive results in maintaining internal security and law and order,� Khaute said on the sidelines of the inauguration of the dog squad.
As part of the security measures, a team of Imphal West district police led by Superintendent of Police K Meghachandra Singh conducted a cordon and search operation at Singjamei Oinam Thingel area in the district on Monday. During the operation, seven persons including three underground bailouts and four tenants (out of verified 241 persons including 84 females), were picked up for verification, a police source said. They were released later.
A police team also conducted verification of the occupants at seven hotels in Imphal. But no one was picked up, the source added. Similar cordon and search operations were also conducted at Kangla Sangomsang Awang Leikai in Imphal East district and Langathel Maning Leikai in Thouibal district.