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Security tightened in NE in view of I-Day

By The Assam Tribune

IMPHAL, Aug 12 � Security measures were today tightened in Manipur in view of the boycott call and general strike on Independence Day by seven major insurgent groups in the State, police said.

Frisking and checking of passers-by were conducted at various locations to intercept movement of ultras who might sneak into the capital complex here to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations on Monday, they said.

Central para military forces such as CRPF, BSF and Assam Rifles would be deployed at all strategic locations from August 13 till August 15 evening to prevent any attempt to destroy important installations or disturb law and order.

Police also asked the public to be more vigilant and appealed them not to touch any unclaimed objects and report immediately if they find any suspected item.

The organisations which had recently formed a coordination committee to step up their activities for �an independent Manipur� are among the 12 militant organisations in the Northeastern States which have called for boycott of Independence Day celebrations in the region and general strike on the day.

A senior police official said every effort would be made to ensure peaceful celebrations on Monday and cordoning off different areas to launch search operations began some days ago in Imphal and in its outskirts to detect presence of insurgents.

Agartala: Security was beefed up in Tripura and Border Security Force (BSF) alerted to seal the 856 km Indo-Bangla border in view of the call by several insurgent outfits of the region to observe August 15 as �Black Day�.

DIG (Police Control) Nepal Das said patrolling by Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and CRPF has been intensified in hilly and insurgency-hit areas and the camps of the security forces were alerted.

A joint press statement issued by 12 insurgent outfits of the region, including National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and ULFA asked the people of the region to observe the Independence Day as �Black Day�.

Das said additional security forces were deployed to guard vital installations, including Raj Bhavan, State Civil Secretariat, residences of VIPs and crowded places in the State.

All vehicles entering the towns from outside were being checked and trained dogs and bomb squads were conducting searches, he added.

The DIG said the BSF was alerted since the insurgents, who allegedly have their base camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, might try to sneak into the State for subversive activities. � PTI

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