Stop Violence or Face Consequences: Manipur CM Warns People

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday warned people that they will have to face the consequences if they do not stop the violence in the state.

It was a reaction to the injury of an army soldier after unknown assailants resorted to shooting without justification in Imphal West district on Sunday night.

“Stop it (the violence). Otherwise, they will face the consequences. I also appeal to the people… the armed Mityai people… not to attack anything and keep the peace so that we can restore normal life in the state,” Singh told reporters here.

According to officials, the soldier has been evacuated to the military hospital in Limakhong and is said to be in stable condition.

They said the accident occurred in Kanto Sabal village, which is adjacent to Limakhong (Ching Mang).

Shortly after the incident, the army columns resorted to controlling retaliatory fire due to the presence of villagers in the area.

During the incident, unidentified gunmen set fire to three houses in Chenming Village. The army later put out the fire.

The officials added that after a two-hour lull, unprovoked gunfire started again from Mitai village in Canto Sabal around 2.35am and continued until 3am.

The prime minister also said his government will build 3,000-4,000 prefabricated houses to house people who had to flee their homes during the ongoing violence in the northeastern state.

Prefabricated homes are prefabricated structures that are built off site and assembled at the location where the homes will be constructed.

Singh, who visited some relief camps during the day, said those prefabricated houses would be ready in two months.

“People are suffering…the state government will build prefabricated houses to house them (those in relief camps) temporarily until a permanent arrangement is made to move them to their former places,” said the Chief Minister.

“The materials will reach Imphal within 10-15 days. The government is looking for a place to erect those houses,” Singh said.

A large number of houses were burnt down and more than 100 people lost their lives in the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki community in Manipur that raged for more than a month.

The army and paramilitary forces were deployed in the state to restore peace to the northeastern state.

Singh said he had a telephone conversation with his counterpart in Mizoram, Zoramthanga.

“I informed him of the apprehension faced by the Metis people living in Mizoram, and he reassured me of their safety,” he said.

Opening schools in Manipur, which have been closed since the outbreak of violence early last month, the prime minister said, “We have to prioritize education, which is much needed for the present and future generations.” A possible response to Singh’s plea for peace, the Assam-based Meitei organization on Monday lifted its proposed economic blockade on National Highway 306 linking Silchar in Assam to Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram.

NH-306/6 is the lifeline of Mizoram connecting the state to Assam and the rest of the country.

The Manipur government has imposed curfews in 11 out of 16 districts and blocked internet services in a bid to stop the spread of rumors in the state.

Clashes first broke out on 3 May after a “Tribal Solidarity March” was organized in the hill regions to protest the Mitte community’s claim to Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

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 reside in the hill regions.

(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)