NEW DELHI, Oct 15: As many as 81 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and three civilians were admitted to a government hospital in Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, on Thursday after reportedly experiencing symptoms of suspected food poisoning following breakfast. The affected people were taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at around 1 pm after complaining of nausea and vomiting.
According to officials, all 84 patients received immediate medical attention in the hospital’s emergency department. Their condition was reported to be stable following treatment. A RIMS official confirmed that the patients had fallen ill due to suspected food poisoning. However, the available information did not establish what may have caused the illness.
The incident has raised concerns after a large number of BSF personnel and civilians reported similar symptoms following breakfast. There was no immediate confirmation about the food consumed by the affected people, whether they had eaten the same meal or whether any food samples would be examined to determine the cause. Further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident and any subsequent investigation are awaited.
In a separate development, security forces in Manipur arrested two alleged militants associated with banned organisations for their suspected involvement in extortion activities, police said.
According to a police statement, a team of state police commandos carried out an operation in the Singjamei area of Imphal West district on Tuesday and arrested Ahongshangbam Pinkumani Singh, a 39-year-old active member of the banned People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).
In another operation, security forces arrested 60-year-old Mohammed Abdul Hakim from the Kwakta area of Bishnupur district. He is allegedly associated with the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Wanglen) and was suspected of involvement in extortion activities in the area, police said.
(Manas Dasgupta)