Imphal, August 25 2010: While expressing concern over the killing of a non-local, Chief Minister O Ibobi said today that the government may be compelled to re-impose the Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 in the Imphal Municipality area.

The statement of the Chief Minister, made during his visit at the house of late Major (Dr) Jyotin who had been honoured with the Ashoka Chakra posthumously on the occasion of Independence Day came a day after the killing of another non-local labourer last night at Wahengbam Leikai under Imphal Police Station.

Chief Minister, O Ibobi extended a monetary assistance of Rs two lakh to the family of the Major of the Army Medical Corp, killed in a suicide bomb attack at the Indian Embassy in Kabul on February 10, 2010.IFCD minister, N Biren and Agriculture minister, N Loken accompanied the Chief Minister in the visit to the late Major's house at Nambol.

They also offered floral tributes to the photograph of Major Jyotin.

The monetary assistance was provided to the family of the deceased major was a mark of respect said the Chief Minister adding that the death of the major was a great loss to the state.

The CM said Jyotin sacrificed his life facing insurgents.

In Manipur, where insurgency related violence occur frequently, due to a strong pressure from the people, AFSPA was lifted from the Imphal Municipality area covering seven Assembly segments.

But insurgency related incidents are going on unabated, Ibobi said citing the instance of the killing of a non-local labourer in Imphal.

The incident may create a wrong impression of Manipur to outsiders.

If militants continue to target non-Manipuris, the state government will be compelled to review the disturbed area status lifted from the IMC area and re-imposed AFSPA once again, the Chief Minister said.

He reminded that in spite of the bad law and order situation, government was compelled to withdraw the disturbed area act from seven Assembly constituencies of Imphal Municipality area following strong pressures from civil organisations demanding a repeal of the Act.

Government withdrew the disturbed area status from IMC area in November 2004 in the wake of widespread protest across the state in solidarity with Irom Sharmila's lone fasting struggle to repeal the Act.

"Where have the civil organisations, rights activists who shouted for repeal of the Act and the honour to the right to life gone, asked the Chief Minister adding that, why were they remaining silent when an innocent non local has been murdered.

What answer can I give to the Centre when they ask for a re-imposition of the Act considering the prevailing spate of violence like attacking houses of individuals, government officials and killing of non-locals, Ibobi said.

Government will not leave any stone unturned to save the lives of non-locals.

These attacks will not be agood for the people of the state working and studying outside the state.

"Thousands of our people, our children are working and studying in various places of the country.

Who will face the consequences if they are attacked, the Chief Minister queried.

The Chief Minister also said that government will chalk out a strategy to face attacks on non-locals.

Speaking further on the occasion, he said government has decided to provide incentives to the students who clear the preliminary exam in the Combined Civil Service Exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) so that they could go outside the state and take part in coachings as part of the preparation for the main exam.

He expressed worry about parents sending out their wards outside the state when non-Manipuris are continued to be attacked in the state.

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