IMPHAL: The armed forces are providing security cover to trucks transporting essential goods into Manipur, to ensure their trouble-free movement amid the highway blockade by some groups.
Security cover is being provided to these trucks by the armed forces so that Manipur does not have to face shortage of essential goods, an issue that has been troubling the people of the state since violence broke out on May 3.
The Army, Assam Rifles, Manipur police and central armed police forces, along with the state government, are engaged in close coordination measures to ensure protection to vehicles that are carrying such goods, including medicines.
A defence source stated that the stock of essential supplies in the state was ‘dwindling’ and ‘beginning to reach critical levels’ which resulted in the security forces to plan the movement of vehicles through National Highway 37.
Meanwhile, aerial surveillance through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Cheetah helicopters is being conducted to ensure unhindered movement of trucks transporting essential goods along NH 37 in Manipur.
Moreover, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Manipur Police, Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and other security personnel are ensuring safety of vehicles belonging to civilians that are plying on NH 37.
Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) of the Manipur police and CRPF are also accompanying trucks that are carrying essential goods into the state.
The violence-hit state of Manipur in the Northeast of India is fast staring at an acute shortage of life-saving medicines. The Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association (MCDA) confirmed this alarming development on Friday (May 19). Manipur’s shortage of essential and life-saving drugs for treatment of patients has been triggered by a blockade on the National Highway 2, which runs into the state.
A few days back, life-saving drugs and other medicines being carried by numerous trucks were left stranded, due to the highway blockade, at Senapati district of Manipur.
It was also informed that many consignments of medicines were waiting to be transported from Guwahati in Assam. Speaking about this dire problem, while briefing the media on Friday, MCDA president Rakesh Rajkumar stressed on the concerns expressed by health workers on the problem of fast depleting stocks of essential medicines in Manipur.
Rajkumar also informed that only 40% of the total stocks of required medicines are available in Manipur at present. The MCDA president said, “From the day communal riot broke out in Manipur on May 3, we are running short on medicines, especially those for diabetes and hypertension.”
The recent violence in Manipur has claimed over 70 lives and left thousands displaced from their homes.
More than 10,000 army and para-military personnel have been deployed in Manipur to restore normalcy.
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