MANIPUR HAS NO BUFFER ZONES, FORCES CAN GO ANYWHERE- CM

Waari Singbul Network, Imphal, 18 February :   Chief Minister N Biren Singh has expressed grave concern over recent violent incidents in Churachandpur and Imphal East districts and announced the formation of magisterial inquiry panels to investigate them.

In the Churachandpur incident on Thursday night, two individuals lost their lives, and another fatality occurred near the Manipur Police Training College (MPTC) Pangei in Imphal East on Tuesday night when Central paramilitary forces intervened. The mob also looted weapons from the 5th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) camp near Pangei and ransacked the office of DC Churachandpur, setting security vehicles ablaze.

CM Biren conveyed his condolences, condemning the loss of lives, and emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order. He announced that magisterial inquiries would be conducted, and legal actions taken against those found guilty.

Addressing a media conference, he stated, “It is the primary duty and responsibility of the government to maintain law and order, protect public property and lives.”

Biren also highlighted the initiation of legal action against an individual who issued threats on social media against SP Shivanand Surve in Churachandpur. Responding to threats on law enforcement agencies and officials by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), he asserted that the government would not tolerate such threats and expressed solidarity with the SP and DC, Churachandpur.

Emphasizing no compromise on state or national security, Biren disclosed the deployment of additional forces in Sugnu (Kakching district) and Lailoiphai (Churachandpur district) to conduct combing operations in reported gunfight areas. He stated, “There is no buffer zone, boundary or jurisdiction identified in the State,” underscoring certain areas as sensitive or hotspot zones. Biren assured the people that the state’s law and order would cover every area in Manipur.

Without naming a MLA, the chief minister also lambasted a Churachandpur MLA for fanning the ethnic violence. The MLA allegedly took to the microblogging websites X to spread misleading and divisive report accusing the state government to be communal and unjust.