Monday, March 10, 2008

Ibobi admits security lapse

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Imphal, March 9: The Okram Ibobi Singh government has suspended five senior police officers and a homeguard, admitting that security lapses had aided the militant attack on the state Assembly yesterday.

A departmental inquiry may be ordered to find out the security lapses.

The chief minister, who is also in charge of the home department, suspended deputy superintendent of police (traffic) L. Birababu Singh, traffic police inspector L. Deven Singh, three other police personnel and one home guard personnel late last night.

As expected, the government today stepped up the security around the Assembly complex. The House is also likely to discuss the first-ever militant bombing of the state Assembly.

Rebels of Cobra task force of Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) hurled a crude bomb on the state Assembly premises shortly before noon yesterday. No one was injured.

Following the blast, four senior police officers were also transferred.

Tomorrow, Imphal East SP L. Kailun will assume charge of Imphal West district, where the Assembly is located. Imphal West SP Clay Khongsai will take charge as SP of Thoubal district, while SP Thoubal Th. Radheshyam will assume charge of Imphal East.

The CID (Special Branch) SP, P. Dhanakumar Singh, has been posted as SP central motor transport, while the additional SP CID (Special Branch) Achin Haokip was made SP in-charge of the Special Branch. The outfit, while owning up the attack, said the bomb was hurled as a warning to Ibobi Singh and his ministers for their stand against the revolutionaries.

The Ibobi Singh cabinet and senior police officials admitted that security lapses led to the attack.

The Assembly Road is normally closed to traffic when the House is in session. However, yesterday the traffic was open, as it was a holiday. Taking advantage of the traffic, the militants hurled the bomb and escaped.

Today, the Assembly Road was closed to traffic and armed police personnel were stood guarding both ends of the road.

The security in-charge of the state Assembly, M. Shamu, said an additional section of the India Reserve Battalion was deployed to guard the complex.

Director general of police Yumnam Joykumar Singh presided over a security meeting this morning. The meeting reviewed yesterday’s incident and also the security arrangement across the city.

“We discussed about the security lapses in the meeting. We have tightened the security across the city. Frisking and checking has also been increased,” the DGP told The Telegraph.

Joykumar Singh instructed all the SPs, commanding officers of Manipur Rifles and India Reserve Battalions to remain alert.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080310/jsp/northeast/story_9000787.jsp

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