Won't remain silent when people are slaughtered: CM
Biren visits bereaved family members
Source: The Sangai Express
Moirang, January 14 2024:
"I'm not that Chief Minister who would remain a silent spectator when innocent people are slaughtered.
My Government may go away and I may not remain the Chief Minister but certain steps will be taken up if innocent people are killed and victimised", asserted Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren.
N Biren today visited the families of the four villagers of Wangoo Sabal Akasoi who were murdered by Kuki militants when they went to collect firewood from Meichakpi Ching on January 10 .
Speaking to the bereaved families and the local people, N Biren stated that he is deeply saddened by the way how many innocent Meitei people were killed and thousands of houses burnt down after portraying that Government's steps to check drug businesses, infiltration from Myanmar and large scale poppy cultivation in the wrong light.
Had the Kukis not attacked Meitei people, Meiteis would have never struck back, he said.
It's not time to look back to the origin of the crisis for everybody now knows who started the violence, Biren said.
"For the last 7/8 months, we have been exercising utmost restraint.
With the killing of innocent and unarmed woodcutters, students and wayfarers, the tolerance limits of the State Government and the Government of India have been stretched beyond limits", the Chief Minister stated.
Taking serious note of the attack and killing of innocent people, a number of IRB personnel have been deployed in Wangoo and adjoining areas, he said.
Noting that the murder of the four villagers took place in an area which is protected by Central security forces, the Chief Minister asserted that the particular Central forces should be held accountable for the murders.
"Being the Chief Minister of Manipur, I've been bearing with all the excesses all these months but I'm not that Chief Minister who would remain a silent spectator when innocent people are being slaughtered continuously", Biren said.
He continued, "How will we survive when the people have been exterminated? Our Nation must be protected" .
"We bear no ill-will against all those Kuki people who have settled in Manipur since many generations back.
But we will never compromise with those infiltrators/immigrants who have been claiming ownership of Manipur's territory and conspiring to suppress the indigenous people", Biren asserted.
In a veiled reference to the State forces, Biren asked what is the point of wielding arms if they cannot save their own people.
"Holding to the post of Chief Minister is meaningless if I cannot protect innocent people and the Nation", he said.
Moving around in groups and shouting on roads cannot win wars.
Everything must be done meticulously, Biren continued.
He said that new houses would be built for all the four woodcutters who were murdered when they went to collect firewood.
He also assured LPG connection to all the bereaved families.
If the villagers are compelled by economic compulsions to go to hills to collect firewood, they may first inform the authorities so that adequate security forces can be deployed in advance, Biren said.
Ex-gratia and other aids would be provided to the bereaved families in consultation with the Command and Control, Kumbi Kendra and the JAC, the Chief Minister assured.
He also assured to look into the people's demand for withdrawal of Central forces from the area.
The Chief Minister further stated that Rs 36 crore has been sanctioned for those farmers who could not cultivate paddy during the last kharif season on account of the violent crisis.
The amount would be distributed to the affected farmers shortly, he said.
Apart from interacting with the bereaved families of Thoudam Ibomcha, Thoudam Anand, Oinam Romen and Ahanthem Dara, the Chief Minister also extended monetary aid to the families to meet their urgent requirements.
The bereaved families asked the Chief Minister how long and how many more families would be subjected to such agony, how many more women would be widowed and how many more children would be orphaned.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Rajya Sabha Member Leisemba Sanajaoba, Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam, MLAs Th Shanti, S Kunjakishore, S Premchandra, ex-MLA S Bira and top ranking Government officials.
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