Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said the state government will protect Manipur and appealed to the people for peace and harmony, stating that all communities of the state, including the 34 tribal communities, will live together.
Addressing the press at the CM’s secretariat, the CM also said that the government is not silent but that operations are going on in the hill and valley while action is also being taken against those who are against the law.
“Mob will not understand what is right or wrong and violence will not bring peace nor solution”, said Biren, urging people to stop mobilising mob and violence.
Biren informed that three people, including a former MLA, said to be involved in threatening vendors and shopkeepers at New Lambulane (New Checkon), Imphal East, on Monday morning were picked up by Manipur police.
It said that the three armed with guns had threatened vendors and shopkeepers to vacate the market, Biren informed and added that an altercation broke out and a fresh tension erupted in the area following the incident.
Police recovered two license guns from their possession, Biren said, adding that a combined force of the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police have been deployed in the New Lambulane area.
CM Biren also said that another incident took place on Sunday night at Moidangpokpi in Imphal West district wherein three persons were injured in a firing incident at the area and two accused have been arrested after a search operation.
Manipur is returning to normalcy in the last 10 days or so and such incidents could flare up the violence, CM Biren said.
He said rumours are still being spread despite the total ban on the internet in the state as many are outside the state and using social media. He urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified and unfounded information. He also appealed not to carry out any activity which would hurt the sentiment of other communities and instigate violence among different communities.
Let us forgive and forget what happened and restore peace as priority, he said.
He informed that security personnel had been deployed in different parts of the state to prevent any untoward incident. He said the government has decided to propose the Central government for sending in 20 more companies of security forces.
CM Biren further appealed to the public to have faith in the government and sought cooperation of all in bringing the state towards normalcy.
The press briefing was attended by Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam; Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai; IPR Minister Sapam Ranjan; Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar; MLA of Wangkhei AC Th Arunkumar and MLA of Moirang Th Shanti.
