Imphal:
Stating that tourism in the state has declined by 10 to 20 percent, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has appealed to the people to stop the violence and initiate peaceful dialogue to end the ethnic crisis.
More than 180 people have been killed and thousands have been internally displaced since ethnic violence began in the northeastern state on May 3.
“We cannot deny that tourism is not affected much. But there is normality mainly in the Imphal area and other parts of the hills, barring two districts. But tourism has declined by 10 to 20 percent.
During the crisis, security vehicles were not allowed to move even in Imphal Valley. We have to take a moment because they are all our people. We cannot use force against them. Normality is slowly returning. We have to convince the people,” he said at a press conference here.
When asked about the violence in Manipur in the year 2023, the CM said that “we should not count 8 months” as there were 4 to 5 months when there was no crisis in the state.
“From May 3 you count 8 months, but for 4 to 5 months there was no crisis. Everything was peaceful. We should not count 8 months, but only the time when the crisis occurred. Solving problems takes time. In the meantime, I would like to appeal to all citizens of the country, especially those in Manipur, to stop the violence and start a peaceful dialogue. We must live together. We must resettle the displaced in their respective places. Children should go to school,” he added.
The ethnic violence involving the Kuki and Meitei communities broke out after a meeting of the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3. As violence and riots continued and many lives were lost, the Center had to deploy paramilitary forces to restore peace in the country. the state.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court asked the Manipur government to provide the court-appointed committee with details of steps it had taken to restore places of worship destroyed in the ethnic violence.
Meanwhile, Assam Rifles, in a joint search operation with Manipur Police, recovered arms and ammunition from the general area of Kouburu Ridge in Noney district on Saturday, according to an official statement.
Based on information about the presence of arms and ammunition, a joint team of Assam Rifles and Manipur Police launched a joint search operation on December 23.
A detailed joint search of the general area was conducted, which led to the recovery of one AK 56 rifle, one single-barreled gun, ammunition, six grenades and war supplies, according to the release.
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