Nipamacha commits to obey Centre's line

NEW DELHI, January 21: In a desperate bid to survive, a beleaguered Manipur Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh has committed himself to toe Home Ministry's line to tone up the administration including crackdown on police set up, transfer of rebel police forces and sacking of 800 ad hoc employees, reports PTI. The Manipur Government has agreed to replace DGP DS Grewal with another IPS officer "to be provided by Home Ministry", a leading Northeast weekly has reported in its latest issue. Among other points reportedly agreed upon by Singh in a meeting with Home Minister LK Advani on January 6 here include 'shifting out' IGP Law and Order, A Romen, The Northeast Sun has reported. The plan, which was finalised after days of deliberations between officials of the Home Ministry and the State government, also includes preparation of a counter-militancy mechanism, setting up of a special security apex committee and an independent VIP security reviews committee. "In order to discipline the Manipur State Police and keeping in mind the recent police revolt, the Nipamacha Ministry has agreed to offer the services of First and Fifth battalions of Manipur Rifles to be deployed outside Manipur," the periodical says. About 800 employees, who made it through 'ad hoc or back door' appointments and are working in various departments would be sacked by February, it says. In another proposal, the Manipur Government has agreed to shift surplus government employees from different departments to the police force. Under this, about 5000 employees are to be taken as cops, the weekly said. After prolonged dithering, Manipur Government had on January 6 submitted to the Centre a time-bound action plan to tackle insurgency and bring the State out of the financial rut, besides agreeing to a CBI probe into scams relating to State lotteries and fake government appointment.