UKHRUL: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has announced that the state government has decided to hand over the case of the bomb attack at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district, which claimed the lives of two children in the early hours today, to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, the chief minister addressed a press conference at his official bungalow in Imphal after chairing a high-level security review meeting with Army, Assam Rifles, State Police and CRPF.
Addressing the press conference, the chief minister condemned the incident in the strongest terms. CM Khemchand said the act appears to be the handiwork of individuals or groups with vested interests in disturbing the prevailing peace in the state and informed that the decision to hand over the case to NIA was taken after detailed discussions with the Home Minister and other MLAs.
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Informing that the perpetrators are yet to be identified, the chief minister stated that a massive combing operation is underway and assured to apprehend the culprits at the earliest.
“Combined security forces, including State Police, Assam Rifles and CRPF, have been deployed. Helicopters are also being used. The culprits will be caught at the earliest,’ the chief minister was quoted as saying.
He further informed that a high-level security review meeting was held with Army, Assam Rifles, State Police and CRPF. Instructions have been issued to intensify operations and take swift action.
In the wake of the bomb attack at Tronglaobi Maning in Bishnupur district early Tuesday, the chief minister chaired a high level security meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and discussed the prevailing law and order situation. Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Manipur Rajiv Singh, high ranking officers of Army, Assam Rifles and Central Security forces were present during the meeting.
Earlier, the chief minister also chaired a high-level meeting with MLAs to review the prevailing situation and deliberate on necessary measures to de-escalate tensions.
“While peace and normalcy have been disturbed, we remain firmly committed to restoring stability at the earliest. The Government is actively exploring all viable options and taking decisive steps to bring back peace, ensure public safety, and uphold law and order across the state,” the chief minister wrote in a Facebook post.
Appealing to the public, the CM Khemchand urged people to remain calm and not give in to emotions. He asked citizens to cooperate with the ongoing operations and support efforts to restore normalcy.
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Meanwhile, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam stated that such elements are peace disruptors who try to derail normalcy whenever the situation begins to improve.
He informed that during a high-level security meeting the chief minister has instructed the security officers to launch a combing operation to capture the perpetrators of Tronglaobi blast “dead or alive”.
He added that state commandos have been redeployed in hill areas after a long gap, using bulletproof vehicles to strengthen operations.
Konthoujam further added that five people sustained bullet injuries when protesters tried to storm a CRPF camp in Bishnupur district on Tuesday morning. “Of them, two people succumbed to their injuries, and some other protesters also sustained minor injuries in the incident,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister and home minister also visited the injured family members at Raj Medicity hospital in Imphal.
CM Khemchand also expressed sorrow over the recent death of a minor girl staying at the Akampat relief camp and announced ex gratia and all possible assistance to the affected families.
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