Manipur CM directs security agencies to step up security in vulnerable areas amid killings

Imphal, October 19 (IANS): Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday directed security officials to strengthen security measures in vulnerable areas of the state while chairing a high-level meeting to review law and order, officials said.  A senior official of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that Monday’s meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation in the state and discussed the unfortunate incidents reported in Thoubal and Imphal East districts.The high-level law meeting, held at the Cabinet Hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday evening, assumes significance in the wake of the killing of four people, injuries to several others and reports of three people missing in separate incidents in Manipur’s Imphal East and Thoubal districts over the past 24 hours.The meeting was also attended by Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh, Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur, Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, state Home Commissioner N. Ashok Kumar and senior officers of the Army, Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and other security agencies.During the meeting, the Chief Minister strongly condemned the killing of innocent civilians by armed assailants.Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister visited a private hospital and met the injured people and their family members following the incident in Imphal East district. He also met the hospital’s managing director and doctors and instructed them to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.The Chief Minister assured the injured civilians and their families that the state government would bear all their medical expenses.Meanwhile, protests erupted in Thoubal district as a large number of people, including women, blocked National Highway-2, demanding justice for the death of a young man, Laishram Rakesh.Rakesh died after being hit by a bullet during an altercation at a musical concert held at the CYSA Playground in Khangabok Part-III Cherapur on Sunday night.Expressing strong resentment over the incident, the protesters demanded that those responsible be identified and arrested within 24 hours. They also submitted a memorandum to the district administration.According to reports, a public meeting was held on Monday morning at the Khangabok Mayai Leikai Loisang Community Hall, following which a rally was taken out to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Thoubal district.Simultaneously, protesters blocked National Highway-2, also referred to as NH-102 in the report, at Khangabok and Arongthong in Thoubal district. The agitators burnt tyres and demanded the arrest and punishment of those responsible for the killing.The protesters also staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Thoubal district.During the protests, participants carried placards bearing slogans such as “Resolve the crisis between the two communities immediately”, “Identify those instigating communal tension”, “We want peace” and “Arrest the killers immediately”.