Imphal: The Manipur government has urged Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to issue directives to Nagaland government to track down the militants who looted Manipur- bound vehicles and molested women passengers at Piphema near Kohima on September 5.

In a fax message to the Deputy Prime Minister on September 6, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also requested the Centre to issue appropriate guidelines to Nagaland government to ensure proper security on Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway number 39. A copy of the message was issued to the press on September 7.

Singh said according to first reports, two Manipur girls from Ukhrul district travelling in one of the three looted buses had been raped by armed militants inside the bus in front of other passengers.

''Such heinous crimes have caused public uproar and outcry amongst the people of Manipur,'' Singh said, adding that both the Centre and Nagaland governments should take appropriate steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

An official release on September 7 said that Bimolchandra Singh, director general of police of Manipur, had spoken to his counterpart in Nagaland in connection with the looting of three passenger buses, which were coming from Guwahati to Imphal on September 5.

It said that Bimolchandra Singh had requested the latter to take immediate action and arrest the culprits.

Official sources had earlier said that the militants had looted cash and personal belongings of the passengers besides, molesting and allegedly raping two women passengers.

PTI