Wrongdoers wouldn't be spared: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, May 22 2023: While stating that all wrongdoers involved in the communal clashes will be pun-ished according to the law of the land, Chief Minister N Bi-ren Singh has maintained that the state government has been taking up all measures to restore peace and harmony in the state.

The government will ensure the safety of all communities and also live together as be-fore, he said.

Briefing the media at his Sec-retariat here on Monday after-noon, the CM claimed that the situation is returning to normal.

Other than some minor inci-dents happening at different places, timely intervention by security forces and cooperation from the public made it pos-sible for the state to return to normalcy gradually, he added.

Stating that the government has been making all efforts to secure the safety of the people, he appreciated all the security forces deployed in the state for their contribution to restore peace and tranquillity.

After consulting the chief secretary and the state's se-curity advisor, instructions have been given to deploy the security personnel in different parts of the hill and the valley, to prevent any untoward incident.

In addition, the government has decided to propose to the central government for sending in 20 more compa-nies of security forces.

Narrating the firing inci-dent at Moidangpok village on Sunday, which had led to injury of three villagers, the CM informed that secu-rity personnel conducted a search operation the whole night.

During the operation, one person had been arrest-ed along with a shotgun, he informed.

Regarding the incident at New Lambulane around 10 am on Monday, he informed that three people have been arrested along with two li-cense guns.

He conveyed that some armed groups of peo-ple were going around the New Lambulane New market threatening the vendors to vacate the premises, lead-ing to the incident.

As part of controlling the situation, security forces conducted a search operation and arrest-ed the three people, one of whom is a former MLA.

He then appealed to the public to refrain from mob violence, adding that action would be initiated, as per law, against all those persons who instigated or caused vi-olent activities, regardless of the community they belong to.

He also urged the public to inform the authority con-cerned via the emergency numbers provided earlier, if they are aware of any wrong activities being carried out, so that swift action could be taken up to control it.

The CM further appealed to the public to have faith in the government and sought cooperation of all in bringing the state towards normalcy.

Urging the public to re-frain from spreading unver-ified and unfounded infor-mation, he appealed not to carry out any activity which would hurt the sentiment of other communities and instigate violence among different communities.

Let us forget and forgive those things which had already happened and make resto-ration of peace as the prior-ity, he said.

Siren continued that Ma-nipur is for every communi-ty.

He then said that despite the internet ban in the state, many hateful and communal posts are being uploaded on social media platforms from both outside and inside the state.

He urged all concerned not to do so, adding that FIRs have been registered against the person(s) uploading the posts and they will be pun-ished accordingly.

The chief minister further urged for withdrawing the blockade along the high-ways, while informing that the security advisor and the chief secretary will be tasked to hold negotiation for lifting the highway siege.

He urged against preventing anyone from vending at the market, while appealing to the public not to step out of their homes during curfew, adding that shoot-at-sight order is still in effect.

Regarding a video clip of army personnel manhan-dling media persons who were covering the incident at New Lambulane on Mon-day, CM Biren expressed his regret and sought apology to the media fraternity.

He assured to "summon" the state security advisor and ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.

Works minister Govin - das Konthoujam, Water Re-sources minister Awangbow Newmai, IPR minister Dr Sapam Ranjan, Education minister Th Basanta Kumar, Wangkhei MLA Th Arun-kumar and Moirang MLA Th Shanti were also present during the press briefing.

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