Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh chaired a high-level security review meeting on Saturday at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal to address the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The meeting followed a series of violent incidents on Friday, which resulted in five deaths across two districts.
According to reports, one woman was killed in Taphou Kuki village in the Kangpokpi district. Separately, an ambush at New Heaven in the Ukhrul district left four people dead. Those killed in the Ukhrul incident were members of the Tangkhul Naga community, and their bodies were later moved to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal for post-mortem examinations.
The meeting included Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, and Director General of Police Mukesh Singh. Senior officials from the Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, and other central security agencies were also present to discuss strategic responses. Participants decided to continue active combing operations to apprehend those responsible for the violence. Additionally, security personnel deployed in various regions received directives to reinforce their jurisdictions, particularly in areas identified as vulnerable.
Following the violence, Naga People's Front (NPF) MLA Leishiyo Keishing visited the morgue at JNIMS and urged civil society organizations and youth leaders to pursue dialogue rather than retaliation. Meanwhile, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), an apex community body, has issued a three-day ultimatum to the state government. Their demands include the removal of armed groups from Naga-inhabited areas, the withdrawal of central forces from the region, and the transfer of the investigation to the National Investigation Agency. The organization has warned of an indefinite public agitation if these demands are not met.
Key facts
- Five individuals were killed in separate incidents in Kangpokpi and Ukhrul districts on Friday.
- The Chief Minister chaired the review meeting at the Cabinet Hall in Babupara, Imphal, on Saturday.
- The TNL has demanded that the National Investigation Agency take over the case involving the four victims in Ukhrul.
- Attendees included top officials from the Assam Rifles, CRPF, and BSF, along with state leadership.
- The state government has authorized continued combing operations to locate suspects involved in recent crimes.
Source: Hindustan Times, Times of India
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