Manipur Violence Claimed 60 Lives, Kin to Get Rs 5 Lakh as Ex Gratia: CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on Monday that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses including religious places burned in ethnic violence that rocked the northeastern state over the past few days.

Addressing a press conference in Imphal, the prime minister said the cabinet has decided to provide a tip of 5 lakh rupees for families of the deceased, 2 lakh rupees for those who suffered severe injuries and 25,000 rupees for those with minor injuries.

These are very unfortunate incidents. “I appeal to the people to make peace together at the earliest,” Singh said.

He said 1,700 homes, including temples and churches, were burnt down during the violence.

The prime minister said that those whose houses were destroyed will be paid Rs 2 lakh and the government will rebuild them.

“Following the unfortunate incident in Manipur, more than 20,000 people stranded in relief camps have been brought to safety as of today. Another 10,000 stranded people will be brought to safety as soon as possible…. Human lives are precious,” Singh said. The destruction of homes and property is unacceptable.

The prime minister said that 1,041 rifles were looted from members of the security forces, of which 214 were seized.

He asked those who had looted the guns to return them to the nearest police station, or else a “mass sweep” would begin.

He said the government has initiated many steps to bring back the stranded people from different parts of the state like Churachandpur, Okrol, Imphal West, Imphal East and Kang Bokbe districts.

He said that a ministerial committee had been formed to supervise the movement of the stranded people to their places.

“Service providers have been instructed to identify vulnerable areas and ensure round-the-clock security and protection for the lands and properties, in the absence of the owners. They have been instructed to take immediate action under the law against people who attempt to plunder or occupy these lands and properties,” Singh said.

Kuldeep Singh, security advisor to the prime minister, says the situation in Manipur is quickly returning to normal.

He told reporters that 218 official information areas had been registered against the miscreants involved in the riots.

Violent clashes erupted in the northeastern state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the Ten Hill Districts on May 3 to protest the Mitte community’s claim to Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, leaving at least 54 people dead.

Meiteis account for about 53 percent of the population of Manipur and most of them live in the Imphal Valley. Tribes – Nagas and Kukis – make up another 40 percent of the population and live in the hill regions.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is republished from a syndicated news agency feed.)