Imphal SPs in night patrol

Imphal, Oct 2 : Police teams led by district superintendents of police have started foot patrols in Imphal East and Imphal West, particularly at night, to prevent militant activities.

The move came after the death of nine migrant construction workers in a grenade attack at a labourers’ shed here last month.

An official source said police teams led by SP, Imphal West district, K. Jayenta Singh, and SP, Imphal East district, Kamei Angam Romanus, patrolled their districts at night on foot to ensure that militants do not enter the city area and plant bombs.

Nine labourers were killed and more than 10 wounded when suspected militants hurled a grenade at the workshed where the workers were having dinner at Nagamapal in the heart of this city last month.

After the attack, the police picked up migrant workers residing in and around the city and kept them temporarily at the dharmasala for safety. After a review of the security scenario, the police allowed the migrants to return home and resume work.

“After the recent bomb attacks in Imphal city, including the blasts at the gate of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s residence and at the migrants’ shed, the new director-general of police, M.K. Das, had issued instructions to the SPs of the twin city districts to take part in patrols,” a senior police officer told this correspondent.

He said not only the SPs but also the police teams deployed in and around this city for frisking and checking also started foot patrols to prevent sneak-ins by militants in the city with explosives.

The main idea is that if the SP himself takes part in foot patrol, the police teams deployed will be more vigilant and alert.

The city has the maximum concentration of migrants who are mostly labourers and hawkers.

Police sources said earlier, the police pickets frisked and checked vehicles but did not take part in any foot patrol.

“We are patrolling our respective areas at night. The SP also supervises patrol whenever he comes across any police patrol team,” a police officer of Imphal East said.

Police sources said the “intensified” security measures followed an announcement by the “coordination committee” of six militant organisations last month saying its stand that all the migrants should go back to their respective states, had not changed.

The committee, however, had denied its hand in the grenade attack at Nagamapal.