Commoners Stay Indoors During I-Day Celebration

Streets in Imphal Bore Deserted Looks When the State Celebrates the Nation’s Independence Day

Posted by IT News on Aug. 15, 2010

64th Independence Day of the country becomes no more a day for the common people. Even though people with high post in the government were seen participating the day almost all people of the valley district specially those in Imphal East and Imphal West remained indoor when the state is celebrating the day at First MR Parade Ground. 

Almost all streets of Imphal city bore deserted looks as all commercial vehicles including engineless tricycles commonly called Rickshaw stay off the road except some private vehicles due to general strike called by several underground outfit of the region. All shops and business establishment in Imphal remain closed during the general strike. However men in Khaki with sophisticated rifles were scene fall in at almost every streets of Imphal. Those security personnel on duty were seen checking each and every suspicious vehicle in the outskirt of the Imphal sity. Manipur Peoples’ Liberation Front, an apex body of the proscribed UNLF, PREPAK and RPF had asked people to restrain from the Independence Day celebration.

Tight security blanket ensures peaceful I-Day in Delhi

Threats to sabotage the National Independence Day celebration occurred not only in the trouble torn state of Manipur and other North Eastern Part of the Country. Security measures were accelerated to the highest level even in the Capital city of New Delhi where Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh hoisted the Nations tricolor flag. According to agencies report anti-aircraft guns, 35 CCTV cameras and around 3,000 security personnel were deployed at the Red Fort alone after National Inteligence agency alerted terror threat. Delhi Police, along with paramilitary forces, security and intelligence agencies, left no stone unturned to spread a security blanket across the capital. The city's borders were sealed till 9 a.m. to ensure that no commercial vehicles entered the capital while the official functions were on. Only private vehicles were allowed but that too after thorough inspection at various police check posts. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and some other distinguished leaders were guarded by the Special Protection Group and National Security Guard commandos at the Red Fort where the tricolour was hoisted. Air space restrictions were in force till the ceremony was over. Around 100 police control room vans were deployed along the route taken by Manmohan Singh from the heart of New Delhi to Red Fort. Around 3,000 security personnel were deployed at the Red Fort apart from 170 companies of police personnel and paramilitary forces. More than 35 CCTV cameras were placed at various points in and around the Red Fort and anti-aircraft guns were positioned at strategic places to guard the complex. Besides the Red Fort, an intense vigil was maintained on key installations like the parliament complex, international airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and Metro stations. Delhi Metro too stepped up the security arrangements and issued directions that no parking facilities would be available at its stations from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday.