Imphal, July 19: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Prakash Jaiswal is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow to take stock of the situation following the mass protests against the killing of Th Manorama and the rising demand for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

In an apparent bid to soothe the frayed temper of the people.

Chief Minister O Ibobi in a statement said that the Union Minister will arrive here as the Centre has taken serious note of the turmoil in the State and added that the GOC of 3 Corps Lt Gen Daljeet Singh is stationed at Imphal presently.

The DG of Assam Rifles is also presently at Imphal to oversee the conduct of the Court of Inquiry into the matter and to fix responsibilities, added the Chief Minister.

Acknowledging the protests launched by the people, the Chief Minister however noted with concern that some armed persons have taken advantage of the agitation and torched a number of machineries which are to be used for the welfare and development of the people.

A number of offices have also been burnt, he noted with anguish.

Asking the people to be aware of nefarious designs, the Chief Minister said the people should be wary of some armed persons trying to mislead them.

The Government is committed to protecting the lives and properties of the common people, asserted the Chief Minister but added that the Government will not keep quiet if some armed persons try to take advantage of the people's movement.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the people and representatives of voluntary organizations to meet and extend their co-operation to the Central Minister who is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow so that a solution may be worked out and expressed hope that public leaders will avail the opportunity to discuss their grievances with the Union Minister.

Ibobi also asked the people to extend their cooperation so that the guilty personnel involved in the killing of Manorama may be punished accordingly.

Meanwhile addressing media persons at his office today, the Chief Minister said that his Government understands and emphatise with the sentiments of the people.

The nude protest staged by women folk in front of Kangla on July 15 is a testimony of the deep hurt felt by the people, said the Chief Minister.

On the rising demands for the revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State, the Chief Minister said that the matter is under active consideration.

Reiterating his Govt's stand to nail the guilty involved in the killing of Manorama, the Chief Minister said that a Judicial Inquiry has already been instituted into the matter and added that the SPF Government strongly condemns the merciless killing of the woman.

Ibobi also recalled the assurances given by the GOC of 3 Corps, Lt Gen Daljeet Singh that the Army would extend its full co-operation to the Judicial Inquiry to be conducted into the matter.

However the Lt Gen has requested the Government to wait for 15 days for the Court of Inquiry instituted by the Army to probe the matter, added the Chief Minister.

On the scheduled visit of Prakash Jaiswal, the Chief Minister said that the Minister will submit a true report of the situation here to the Centre after studying the ground realities.

Appealing to the people to maintain peace, the Chief Minister asked the public not to stage torch rallies in the night and to resort to other form of agitations.

As a Government is in place, the authority will be constrained to take up due action according to the provisions of the law, he added.

To a question from this reporter, the Chief Minister admitted that there has been no perceptible improvement in law and order ever since the AFSPA was imposed in 1980 and added that this is precisely the reason why the Govt is looking at the feasibility of lifting the said Act.

Ibobi also made it clear that his Government respects the sentiments behind the nude protest staged by women folk in front of Kangla on July 15.The Government was constrained to impose curfew as sentiments was running high after the nude protest and the administration did not want anything to go out of hand, he added.

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