Amid a resurgence of violence in Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has appealed to the central government to take decisive action to protect the state’s territorial integrity and address the ongoing unrest.
On Sunday, Singh submitted a memorandum to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Raj Bhavan, accompanied by several MLAs and Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh. In the memorandum, Singh urged the Centre not to concede to the demand for a separate administration raised by Kuki Zo groups, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Singh’s appeals come as fresh violence has erupted in the state. On Saturday, at least five people were killed in Jiribam district. Police reports indicate that militants entered a residence and shot a man dead in his sleep. The incident triggered a heavy exchange of fire between warring communities, resulting in the deaths of four armed men.
The Chief Minister also called for the revocation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, which was signed in 2008 between the Centre, the Manipur government, and two Kuki militant conglomerates—the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF). The pact, aimed at reducing violence, has been extended periodically.
The Raj Bhavan issued a statement confirming that Singh and his cabinet colleagues met with the governor and submitted a memorandum. However, details of the memorandum have not been disclosed by either the Raj Bhavan or the Chief Minister’s office.
The meeting follows a recent escalation in violence, with Jiribam, an ethnically diverse district previously relatively unaffected by the clashes in Imphal Valley and adjoining hills, witnessing violence after the killing of a 59-year-old man in June. Since May of last year, clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities have resulted in over 200 deaths and left thousands displaced.
Singh’s memorandum reflects ongoing concerns over the state’s security situation and the need for increased central support to restore peace and stability in Manipur.
(With PTI inputs)