• Violence hit Manipur slowly returning to normalcy, says CM N Biren Singh

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    Violence hit Manipur slowly returning to normalcy, says CM N Biren Singh
    To prevent ethnic disputes, the Manipur police and over 60,000 security guards from the central military have been stationed...

    Digital Desk: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said that the conflict-torn state is slowly returning to normalcy. On the sidelines of the 132nd Patriot's Day celebrations in the Imphal West district, the Chief Minister made a statement while speaking with media representatives. 

    “Manipur is limping back to normalcy. Now, we seek the cooperation of a cross-section of society for the preservation of the territorial integrity of the state at any cost. Our government, with the support of the common people, will maintain peace and prosperity, apart from keeping the territorial integrity of the state intact,” Chief Minister Singh said.

    While the tribal Kuki and Nagas make up about 40% of Manipur's population and live in eight hill districts, the Meitei community, which predominates in the valley, makes up 53% of the state's population.

    To prevent ethnic disputes, the Manipur police and over 60,000 security guards from the central military have been stationed in the state's most vulnerable areas.

    At least 160 people have already lost their lives in violence in the state, and several hundred others have been left injured.

    Additionally, thousands of people have been forced to flee and seek shelter in relief centers.

    Conflicts between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities erupted on May 3 following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' that was organized in the hill areas to denounce the Meitei community's quest for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then, the state has been boiling over.

    Meanwhile, no report of any untoward incident has been reported in the state over the last 72 hours.