Imphal, October 12: The United Committee Manipur has strongly condemned the imposition of curfew by the State Government terming it an attempt to muffle the voice of the people who are demanding to know whether the ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) is informally enforced in Manipur or not.

Speaking to newsmen this evening, UCM president Sapamcha Jadumani said that there is absolutely no justification for the Government to silence the voice of the people and added that as long as the curfew is imposed, the general strike called by the UCM will remain in force.

Jadumani said that representatives of the UCM met the Chief Minister yesterday at 3.30 pm and the UCM urged him to get a written assurance from the Centre that the territory of Manipur would not be sacrificed at the altar of the peace talk with the NSCN (IM) as well as to assure that the NSCN (IM) cadres would not be allowed to carry out its activities inside the territory of Manipur.

It is unfortunate that a Chief Minister who could not even extract a written assurance from the Centre on the territory of Manipur should proclaim that a meeting called by the NSCN (IM) at Senapati was called by the UNC, said Jadumani.

Debunking the Chief Minister who said that the Senapati meeting was a lukewarm affair, Jadumani said that top notch leaders of the NSCN (IM) including its Deputy Prime Minister Raising Keishing, Monitoring Committee chairman Repuni and Deputy Home Minister Rengkon attended the said meeting at Senapati.

Jadumani said that UCM received specific information from people of Senapati who are against dismembering the territory of the State and added that a fresh map of Nagaland was discussed threadbare at the meeting.

The meeting held at Tamenglong on October 8 was also attended by leaders of the NSCN (IM), said Jadumani.

He further said that if Chief Minister O Ibobi and his Council of Ministers cannot tackle the activities of the NSCN (IM) then they should resign gracefully.

Appealing to the people not to spread rumors that could spark off unnecessary tension, Jadumani said the hill and valley people should co-operate to protect the territory of Manipur.