Police beefs up security for PM's visit

Imphal, Dec 2(UNI) People were evicted from the streets and hundreds of securitymen lined up along the roads leading to the airport here following the Prime Minister's visit to Manipur today.

Earlier, proscribed militant outfit Revolutionary People's Front and Action Committee Against Tipaimukh dam (ACTIP) had called for a boycott on the visist of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is scheduled to land at the Tulihal airport today.

The Prime Minister after meeting the Governor at the Raj Bhawan would leave for Kangla to address a public gathering, sources said.

The entire stretch from the airport to Raj Bhawan had been barricaded with security personnel on both sides of the road.

Yesterday there was a loud blast at Uripok, about 200 m away from Kangla, Police said adding that it could have been done by some miscreant using a cracker.

All the educational and financial institutes have been closed along with the inter state bus services.

The Union Heavy Industries minister Santosh Mohan Dev and Union home minister of state Prithiviraj Chauhan and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes were also expected to accompany the Prime Minister, officials said.

The entire Kangla area had been fortified with strict security arrangements. The police had also informed that mobile phones would not be allowed inside the area.

Mr Singh would be laying the foundation stones of a National Sports Academy, Manipur Institute of Technology and Cultural cum City Convention at Kangla.

UNI NS PP KLC1300