President leaves Imphal

IMPHAL, April 16: President Pranab Mukherjee who was on his first visit to Imphal left this morning for Gangtok at 9:36am on board the same Indian Air Force special plane on which he had touched down at the state capital yesterday. An unprecedented security blanket was placed in the state capital as several underground armed outfits had called general strikes and bandhs in  connection with the high profile visit.

The state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Deputy CM Gaikhangam, Ministers, MLAs and state Director General of Police, Y Joykumar Singh were present at the Imphal Tulihal Airport before the President arrived at the airport for his departure.

The President accompanied by the Governor Gurbachan Jagat later arrived at the airport from the Imphal Raj Bhavan where he had halted the night.

The dignitaries of the state then saw off the President.

Plans for according a guard of honor to the President by a contingent of the Manipur Police had to be cancelled following incessant rainfall today.

It may be mentioned that the attempt to accord the Guard of Honour after the President landed at the airport yesterday was also cancelled in a similar fashion due to inclement weather.