"IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, MORE THAN 300 HUNDRED MEIRA
                PAIBIS OF THE NEWLY FORMED VTH NATIONAL GAMES ALL MANIPUR
                PEACE AND VOLUNTARY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION APPROACHED THE
                STATE CHIEF MINISTER WAHENGBAM NIPAMACHA TO ENTRUST THEM
                IN CONTROLLING THE CROWD IN THE FORTHCOMING VTH NATIONAL
                GAMES."

               IMPHAL, Feb 10 — As part of the elaborate security arrangements for the
               National Games beginning here on February 14, a high level official team
               of the Union Home Ministry led by Special Secretary (Home) RD Kapoor has
               reviewed the security rehearsals conducted by a combined team of Army,
               CRPF and Manipur Police today.

               The Home Ministry team including Director General of Civil Defence Nobel
               Officer (Security) MK Shukla, Deputy Military Secretary to the President
               of India, DS Alhawat and Joint Secretary (Home) GK Pillai arrived here
               on Sunday afternoon. Just after their arrival the team along with the
               top officials of the Army, CRPF and Manipur Police inspected the
               security arrangements conducted by the joint forces at the Khuma Lampak
               Sports Complex on Sunday evening. They also inspected the full rehearsal
               programme of the security machinery here. Due to the security programme,
               most of the important streets of Greater Imphal was disturbed for about
               three hours. Normal traffic was also disturbed during the programme. No
               one was allowed during the rehearsal programme. All passengers coming
               from different corners of the State were compelled to walk by foot to
               reach their destination.

               In the meantimg, a high level meeting was also convened by the State
               Chief Secretary H Jelshyam this morning here at his office chamber. The
               high official team of the Home Ministry, GOC 57th Mountain Division
               Major General Arvind Sharma, DGP, Manipur Police L Jugeshwor, Addl. DGP
               C Peter, IGs of CRPF and other para-military personnel also attended the
               urgent meeting.  Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Chief Secretary H
               Jelshyam said that in view of the indefinite bandh called by the Naga
               Public Action committee (NPAC) in the four hill districts of the State
               necessary security arrangements has been taken up all over the State.
               Sri Jelshyam said that Army personnel were entrusted ROP duty along the
               National Highway No. 39 and 53 since Saturday evening. He also said that
               bullet proof cars which will carry the President and Prime Minister Atal
               Behari Vajpayee would be airlifted to Imphal by special Air-Force
               Aircrafts to Imphal on February 10 next so that they can be included in
               the final security rehearsals.

                On the other hand Naga Public Action Committee (NPAC) executives when
               contacted said that their indefinite agitation will be intensified until
               and unless the State government did not change its stand. NPAC reacting
               to the public pressure for the withdrawal of their agitation, said that
               they are ready to support the Vth National Games if the government
               extended its helping hand in solving the Sadar Hills issue NPAC, the
               newly formed Naga body supported by United Naga Council, and All Naga
               Students Association, Manipur is demanding withdrawal of government's
               stand in connection with the creation of Sadar Hills into a revenue
               district.

               In another development, more than 300 hundred Meira Paibis of the newly
               formed Vth National Games All Manipur Peace and Voluntary Women's
               Association approached the State Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha to
               entrust them in controlling the crowd in the forthcoming Vth National
               Games.

               Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong Women's Society, Manipur Valley has expressed
               unhappiness at the total bandh called by NPAC. The Society
               has called on the NPAC to exempt the movement of sports-persons and
               officials connected with the National Games from the purview of the
               bandh.