28 missing people remain traceless: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 05 2024: Chief Minister N Biren said that at least 63 people were reported missing in the crisis out of which 26 were found dead, nine alive and the remaining 28 still traceless.

Responding to a question by Congress member Surjakumar Okram on the last day of the 5th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Biren said that as per government record, 1555 people sustained injuries in the crisis out of which 1429 are civilians, 28 personnel of central security forces, and 98 state personnel.

People with grievous injuries are provided assistance under PMHAY and CMHT.

Besides, the government had approved a policy to extend further assistance, he said, while urging injured people, who are not in government records, to approach so that the government could extend possible assistance.

Regarding the cases of missing people, the CM said that the government could not conduct extensive search and rescue operation due to the prevailing situation.

Agencies handling these cases are working at their level best to trace the missing people.

Some families even approached the government for conducting their last rites in the absence of their bodies.

The government had compensated some and some are in the process, he said.

In response to a question on PM Kisan Samman Nidhi raised by MLA Surjakumar, the CM said that there were cases of fake beneficiaries in the initial stage and some farmers, who could not furnish land records were also found added in the list.

However, there has been some changes in the scheme guidelines and farmers without land records have to be removed.

FIRs have been registered against fake farmers and actions will be initiated, he asserted.

Regarding a question by opposition member K Meghachandra on two missing students, Biren said that CBI had arrested five people and filed charge sheets against them.

The agency is investigating the case further.

In response to another question from Meghachandra regarding Free Movement Regime, Biren said that the decision to scrap FMR was taken by the MHA after considering the internal security of the country and demographic shift being experienced in the northeast region.

Following the recommendation from MHA, the ministry of external affairs is processing the same, he said.

Biren further said that FMR was suspended during Covid-19 pandemic and again on February 16 this year for six months.

The decision to scrap it totally came after the February suspension.

Despite the situation, the government is providing shelter and food to around 6000 Myanmarese refugees.

Suspending FMR does not mean that no person from Myanmar can enter India or vice versa.

They can enter provided they have the requisite documents.

Security forces are monitoring the porous border and BSF teams have started operation in some areas, he said.

Replying to opposition member Th Lokeshwar on shelter house for displaced people, Biren said that the government had approved a permanent housing scheme for displaced people with 139 families provided 50 per cent advance including 119 families from Imphal East district.

Fund of 50 per cent for another 472 families has also been sanctioned.

Assessment of lost property records is almost completed and once the exercise is completed, the government will finalise the compensation amount, he said.

Moreover, the government had approved an interim relief of Rs 1 lakh for displaced families who have lost their houses, and 25 per cent advance payment has been sanctioned.

The fund will be released after ground verification and account verification.

Informing that funds for permanent housing scheme are provided only to those families who have houses in villages recognised by the government and have their Aadhaar and Voter ID cards, he said that inhabitants of villages not recognised by the government will not be covered by the scheme.

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