Manipur CM cancels proposed Jiribam visit

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh who had scheduled to visit and take stock of the situation at the ethnic violence hit Jiribam district and even sent an advanced security convoy has cancelled his visit.

The advance CM’s security convoy left Jiribam for Imphal on Saturday, officials said.

The reason for the cancellation of the CM’s visit is not yet known.

The Chief Minister was supposed to visit Jiribam on June 14 to personally take stock of the prevailing situation in the border district, where communal tension and violence flared up since June 6 after one farmer was killed by militants and several Meitei houses were torched subsequently.

upon receiving the news that the CM would not be visiting Jiribam, the displaced people housed at different camps got anxious that they might not be able to return to their homes.

The displaced people from Borobekra currently residing in the relief camp have appealed to the government to provide adequate security and allow them to return to their homes.

However, for proper rehabilitation of around 1, 000 displaced persons, the Manipur government has chalked out strategies to deploy a team of additional police commandos airlifted from Imphal to Jiribam District headquarters at its sensitive locations —at Lamtai Khunou and other neighbouring Meitei villages under Borobekra police station located around 32 km from Jiribam district headquarters.

Following attacks launched by the militants at Lamtai Khunou, Bhutankhan, Harinagar, and  Modhupur villages under Borobekra police station located around 32 km from Jiribam district headquarters, the displaced people are currently taking shelter at seven different relief camps set up at Jiribam district.