The international border with Myanmar has been sealed for 48 hours beginning Saturday morning to ensure an incident-free Republic Day ceremony in Manipur, officials said here.
An order issued by M. Rajkumar, district magistrate of Tengoupal, said the sealing of the border that began at 11 a.m. would remain in force till 11 a.m. on January 27. International gates I and II shall remain closed during this period and border trade will be closed, the order said.
Speculation among the government circles is that undesirable elements may slip into Manipur to create law and order problems. All major underground organisations in the Northeastern region had called for a boycott of the national function.
About 43 Assam Rifles has been deputed to guard the 350-km-long Manipur-Myanmar border during the 48-hour shutdown. Manipur has been affected by bomb blasts ahead of the Republic day function. In the latest bomb explosion this week, over 30 houses and shops at the RIMS crossing were damaged.
Police and paramilitary forces have been tightening security round the clock. Some insurgents had reportedly been picked during the search operations in some valley districts.
