Manipur CM N. Biren Singh again urges peace amid escalating violence

Imphal, May 26, 2023, IANS

In the wake of recent incidents of violence occurring in several districts, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh issued another appeal on Friday, urging the people to maintain peace and harmony.

He also announced plans to conduct peace talks with various communities and stakeholders in an effort to normalize the situation.

During his visit to the strife-torn state, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed reporters that Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Manipur on May 29.

The Home Minister's three-day visit aims to address the ongoing ethnic crisis and work towards its resolution.

According to local authorities, acts of violence, including instances of arson, have been reported in three districts - Imphal East, Churachandpur, and Bishnupur.

Prompt action was taken by the army and other central forces, swiftly bringing the situation under control in the affected areas.

Speaking to the media at the Secretariat, Chief Minister Singh highlighted the deployment of various security forces in the 38 most volatile and densely populated areas across different districts.

The army, Central Armed Police Force, Manipur Rifles, police, and Village Defence Force have all been adequately positioned to maintain law and order.

Singh mentioned that a delegation of Manipur MLAs had met with the Union Home Minister in Guwahati on Thursday to apprise him of the prevailing situation.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the government's top priority is to restore peace and normalcy, ensuring the safety and security of its citizens. He called upon the people to have faith in the government's efforts.

During his visit to the districts, Minister Nityanand Rai expressed concern over the recent unrest and its potential impact on development and welfare activities.

He reassured the public that all grievances, demands, problems, and issues would be addressed through peaceful dialogue and discussions. Rai emphasized the importance of trust in the government and urged all communities to refrain from engaging in any form of violence.

In a separate development, several women organizations staged a protest on Friday, burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, newly appointed Security Advisor to Manipur Government Kuldiep Singh, and overall operational commander Ashutosh Sinha.

Sandhyarani, one of the protesters, highlighted the prevailing atmosphere of panic and uncertainty among the people following the incident on May 3.

Furthermore, Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and Naga People's Front (NPF) Lok Sabha member Lorho S. Pfoze jointly appealed to the public to maintain peace and ethnic harmony.

They called upon the people to place their faith and trust in the government's ability to handle the situation.

Academician turned BJP politician Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, representing the Inner Manipur parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha, departed from Imphal to New Delhi.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh had previously highlighted the demands made by Kuki leaders, including their 10 MLAs, who were under immense pressure from various quarters, including militants, calling for a separate political administration equivalent to a separate state for the tribals. (Edited)