Manipur chief minister Yummam Khemchand Singh in his speech on the 80th Independence Day on Saturday stressed on restoring peace and normalcy in the state to bring development.
“Peace and normalcy will be the backbone to bring development in Manipur as a first step and peace and development need to go in parallel,” Khemchand said.
The CM said the Manipur government has continued its peace efforts and added 477 police vehicles. With the deployment of new police vehicles, security forces can now reach far-flung places in Manipur to monitor the law and order , he said.
Deep Dive
What measures has the Manipur government taken to restore peace and normalcy?
Why is peace considered essential for development in Manipur?
How have recent violent incidents affected the peace efforts in Manipur?
Singh also condemned the killing of two civilians and the injury of two others in an alleged ambush on Friday at Langka village, Kangpokpi district. “The government will book the culprits involved in the crime according to the law of the land,” he said.
Unknown individuals killed two farmers and injured two others in an alleged ambush on a group of farmers in Langka village, Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Friday.
Naga bodies, including the United Naga Council (UNC), a Naga apex civil body, imposed a 24-hour total shutdown in solidarity with the victim families, effective from 11 p.m. on August 14 to 11 p.m. on August 15, across Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur. Additionally, the Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur also imposed an emergency total shutdown across Liangmai-Naga inhabited areas of Manipur on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}Naga bodies, including the United Naga Council (UNC), a Naga apex civil body, imposed a 24-hour total shutdown in solidarity with the victim families, effective from 11 p.m. on August 14 to 11 p.m. on August 15, across Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur. Additionally, the Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur also imposed an emergency total shutdown across Liangmai-Naga inhabited areas of Manipur on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla extended greetings to the people of Manipur on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day in a message, and called for renewed efforts to strengthen national unity, uphold the Constitution and ensure peace and social harmony.
“As we celebrate this historic occasion, let us renew our resolve to strengthen national unity, uphold the Constitution, and contribute wholeheartedly to the progress and prosperity of our nation,” the governor said.
He urged citizens to work towards building a “peaceful, inclusive, and developed India” while ensuring that Manipur continues to move forward on the path of stability, growth and social harmony.
Coordinating Committee (CorCom), an apex coalition of six banned underground outfits in Manipur, imposed a total general strike and boycott of India’s Independence Day. The six banned outfits comprise the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), PREPAK-Progressive, Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
CorCom claimed the 1949 annexation as a violation of international law and Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter.
The shutdown has paralysed Imphal City, as markets, business establishment, transports were shutdown.
Manipur has been in ethnic unrest since May 3, 2023 following Kuki-Zo and Meitei conflict claiming over 260 lives, and leaving more than 60,000 displaced.