Morung Express news
Kohima | May 6
The fleet of buses and other vehicles which left Kohima on Saturday to bring back Naga students/citizens stranded in Imphal reached Manipur capital in the evening. Altogether 16 buses of the Nagaland State Transport (NST) and Nagaland Police among others reached Imphal with security cover from Nagaland Police, IR and Mahila Personnel and the Assam Rifles.
An official informed that the buses will depart early Sunday morning from Imphal. As such, stranded citizens have been informed to reach pick up points at specific areas in Imphal. In this relation, the vehicles will facilitate pick up at educational institutions like RIMS, Central Agricultural University (CAU) and Manipur University in the morning from 2:30 AM onwards. However, stranded people from other districts are required to arrange own transportation till Imphal.
In the current fleet of vehicles, arrangement is being made to accommodate around 500 people. The official further informed that safety and security is also being assured.
The Assam Rifles also in a separate press statement informed of the launch of ‘Operation Kohima Calling’ and requested all stranded Naga students to coordinate with each other and reach the pick-up points as per the time given provided. Contact of officers accompanying the column under Brigadier Ved Beniwal are- Major Hashir Ahmad - 7408200275 and 8162958214, Assistant Commandant Tamang - 9862659130 and 8250599861.
In addition, for any other information, guardians of all students have also been requested to be in touch with following numbers-Colonel Umesh Sati - Commandant 1st AR- 8650232211, Lt Col Abhijit Pawar – 9839122908.
More than 600 Nagas awaiting evacuation: Patton
Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio took to twitter to inform that he has spoken with his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh and sought his assistance.
“Spoke to the CM of Manipur, N Biren Singh regarding the ongoing situation in Manipur and shared my concerns. Requested him to ensure the safety of people from Nagaland presently in Manipur and extend help in evacuating the stranded people as the State has sent transport,” Rio said in his official twitter handle.
Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton also reiterated that the state government is on the job to evacuate the citizens from Nagaland stranded in Manipur.
Patton, who visited the eight people injured in the Manipur violence and presently admitted at Oking Hospital, Kohima told media persons on the sidelines that the state government has already dispatched 22 buses so far.
Stating that there are more than 600 citizens from Nagaland stranded in Imphal, Patton said 22 buses would not be enough to bring them all and added that the state government will continue to send more buses.
The Deputy Chief Minister interacted with the injured persons and their families and extended financial aid on his personal capacity. Patton wished all the injured persons a speedy recovery.
