Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on Monday said that the ethnic violence in the State has claimed 60 lives and left 231 people with injuries. Appealing for peace, he also announced that the state cabinet resolved to provide ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh to those who suffered major injuries and Rs 25,000 to those with minor injuries.

“These are very very unfortunate incidents. I appeal to people to bring peace together at the earliest,” Singh said during a press conference.

“In the wake of the unfortunate incident that happened in Manipur, more than 20,000 people who were left stranded in relief camps have been moved to safety till today. Another 10,000 more stranded people will be transported to safety as soon as possible…. Human lives are precious and destroying homes and properties are unacceptable,” he stated.

Earlier, the Manipur CM had thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for “his continuous supervision all throughout.”

“I have been constantly in touch with the office of the Home Minister to monitor the situation and ensure that no further violence takes place in the state,” he said. Singh also appreciated the para military and commended “their active duty and efforts to bring order and peace in Manipur”.

The chief minister said that 1,700 houses including temples and churches have been burnt down during the violence and that Rs 2 lakh will be paid to those whose houses were destroyed and the government will rebuild them.

The government has initiated many steps to bring back stranded people from different parts of the state such as Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Imphal West, Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts, he said.

A cabinet panel has been formed to oversee the movement of the stranded people to their respective places, he said.

“The SPs have been directed to identify vulnerable areas and ensure round-the-clock provision of full-proof security and protection for land and property, in the absence of their owners. They have been directed to take immediate action as per law against persons attempting to loot or occupy such land and property,” Singh said.

Further, the chief minister also informed that 1041 guns were looted from security force personnel, out of which only 214 have been recovered so far. He asked those who looted the guns to return those to the nearest police station, failing which a “mass combing operation” will be launched.

The situation in Manipur is fast returning to normal, says Kuldeep Singh, Security Advisor to the chief minister.

He told reporters that 218 FIRs were registered against miscreants involved in the rioting.

The Supreme Court of India on Monday asked the Centre and the Manipur State government to step up relief and rehabilitation efforts for those affected terming the aftermath of the violence “humanitarian issues”.

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