Three killed in fresh Manipur violence

Imphal: Manipur BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh on Saturday claimed that there were huge security lapses in the militant attack in Bishnupur district that killed three people earlier in the day, and demanded action against the paramilitary force personnel for their “negligence in duty”.

The 24-hour general strike called by the co-ordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies in Manipur on Saturday paralysed normal life in Imphal Valley, with markets and business establishments remaining shut in almost all localities.

In the early hours of Saturday, the three people, including an elderly man and his son, were killed and a few injured after suspected militants opened indiscriminate fire in Kwakta Lamkhai village.

The BJP MLA, who is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, raised questions and said that despite the presence of a massive number of paramilitary personnel, the militants from other districts came to the village and brutally killed the three people.

“The so-called paramilitary forces on duty in the village need to be suspended. We have been writing letters and memorandum regularly to the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) that certain security forces are creating uneasiness between the people and the state.

"Few units of the security forces are creating problems. If the proper action is not taken immediately, peace and normalcy would not be restored in the state,” the MLA said in a video message.

He said that certain proactive measures need to be taken immediately and the Chief Security Advisor must look into these aspects.

“There are people behind the militants to create trouble. Who is supplying arms and ammunition to them (militants). Central government must answer these questions. There is violence going on for more than three months.

"Central government must take certain stringent measures to stop violence, otherwise the situation would go out of control. Manipur needs peace and normalcy,” the legislator said.

Rajkumar Imo Singh had earlier appealed to all MP cutting across party lines not to politicise the Manipur issue and try to bring peace and normalcy in the state.

“My humble appeal to all the Parliamentarians in the country cutting across party lines, the whole State of Manipur is looking up to you all and the State deserves to be discussed rather than politicised.

The victim's of Saturday's attack were identified as Yumnam Pishak Meitei (67) and his son Yumnam Premkumar Meitei (39) and a neighbour Yumnam Jiten Meitei (46).