Manipur clashes left 60 dead, 200 wounded, 35,000 displaced: CM N Biren Singh

GUWAHATI: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday said 60 "innocent" people lost their lives and over 200 injured in the Meitei-tribes ethnic clash that spread across Manipur from May 3, while appealing to people to give peace a chance and return home.



Singh said 35,000 people have been displaced and around 1,700 houses burnt as miscreants on a looting spree snatched 1041 weapons from police armouries and 1000 rounds of ammunition during the violence.

"It is a very, very unfortunate incident and as per information received so far at least 60 people have lost their lives and all of them innocent lives," Singh said, adding that a high-level probe will be conducted to fix responsibility on persons or groups who instigated the violence and government servants who didn't meet their responsibilities.



He said with no incidents in the last two days, leading to relaxation of curfew for three hours, the government is working round-the-clock to resolve the crisis under direct monitoring of union home minister Amit Shah and facilitating the return of thousands of people. As early as 5 am, people in Imphal were seen buying essentials and stocking them at home. Army personnel kept watch while choppers and drones hovered above to ensure no untoward incident occurred. The government is planning to give a five-hour relaxation on Tuesday in Imphal district and few other places.



However, the ban on mobile internet has been extended till May 13. Appealing to the people to come together, he said that about 20,000 displaced people have already returned home safely and a cabinet sub-committee of three cabinet ministers have been given the responsibility to ensure the transportation for the remaining 10,000 displaced people.

"Among 20,000 displaced people, only half of them are still stranded, but in safe and secured environments at different locations. About 1,500 others from outside the state, mostly students, have already been evacuated to their home states," he said.



SPs to guard properties till owners return: Govt
He said instructions have been issued to all SPs to identify the vulnerable areas and ensure round-the-clock security and protection of land and property in the absence of their owners, who are yet to return, till normalcy is restored.

"The SPs have been directed to take immediate action against people attempting to loot or occupy such properties and will be personally held accountable for any lapses," Singh said.


Singh said miscreants also looted 1,041 police weapons along with 7,460 rounds of ammunition during the violence.

"Till today we have recovered 214 arms and 4273 rounds of ammunition. I appeal to those who are still in possession of these arms and ammunition to surrender them within 24 hours and get exempted from legal procedures or else face combing operations," the chief minister said.