IMPHAL, OCT 12 (PTI): Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Monday appealed to warring communities in the state to start talks to restore peace and normalcy.
Singh made the appeal after visiting the mortuary of state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal, where the bodies of two Naga men recently killed by suspected militants were brought on Sunday night. He also interacted with family members of the two deceased.
A fresh wave of violence hit the state last week, with at least nine people killed in separate firing incidents in Kamjong, Ukhrul and Kangpokpi districts on Friday and Saturday.
One of the two Naga men whose bodies were brought to JNIMS was beheaded, and his head remained missing, with a Naga civil society organisation issuing an ultimatum for the return of the head for a proper funeral. Addressing reporters, Singh said, “It is my fervent appeal to all communities not to engage in violence and not to use any force on unarmed civilians. We are all residents of Manipur and citizens of India.”
“A human being’s life cannot be purchased with money… Lives must be safeguarded. I appeal to all communities to start talks,” he added. The BJP leader also called for better security and intelligence-gathering mechanisms.
“Such killings, kidnappings and burning of houses would not happen if there is proper security and intelligence,” he added.
More than 50 people have been killed and dozens of houses torched in violence between Kuki and Naga tribes since February this year.
The state had earlier witnessed ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis, in which over 300 people were killed, while 49 remained missing, and thousands were rendered homeless.
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