As many as 20 non-Manipuris have been killed in attacks by militants in Manipur since 2017, Chief Minister N Biren disclosed on Wednesday.
Biren was replying to a question by Congress MLA, Surjakumar Okram during the third sitting of the ongoing monsoon session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Surjakumar sought information of the number of non-Manipuris killed during the said period and questioned the steps taken by the government to stop such incidents as the state is pushing to boost the tourism industry.
As informed by Biren, the highest count for the period from 2017 to July 25, 2022 was in 2021 with the killing of as many as eight non-Manipuris. One non-local was killed each in 2017, 2018 and 2019 while three were killed in 2020. He added that six non-Manipuris were murdered this year when counted till July 25.
Notably, the numbers have evidently fallen as the chief minister pointed out that as many as 40 non-Manipuris were killed during 2011 to 2016. He said that six non-locals were killed in 2011, one killed in 2012, 14 murdered in 2013, 13 killed in 2014, two killed in 2015 and four murdered in 2016.
He further said that the government is taking stringent security measures to thwart such unfortunate incidents in the future. Pointing out that most of the attacks were carried out when elections were approaching, he said that the attacks might have been carried out to disturb the democratic process.
He maintained that 14 FIR cases have been registered and investigation is going on in the attacks. Besides, one accused was arrested and remanded into judicial custody under FIR No. 8 (1) 2022 Thoubal PS under section 302/34 IPC.
Highlighting the security measures taken by the government, he said that the district police in the state are always on alert to curb such attacks by way of collection of intelligence reports, regular frisking/ checking, identification of suspected persons and regular checking of the places where the non-Manipuri reside.
Deployment of police personnel round the clock in the worksites where non-Manipuris are working in the districts has been done, he said.
Biren also said that among other steps, cut off checkpoints have been activated to prevent non-locals from venturing into vulnerable areas.
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