The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body representing the Meitei community, has attributed the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state to a "lack of genuine political leadership."
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Saturday directed the state Director General of Police Rajiv Singh to prioritise the safety and security of the people and urged officers from the Army and paramilitary forces to extend their fullest cooperation to the administration in maintaining law and order in the state.
A live hand grenade was discovered on Thursday outside the rented residence of Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, a supervisor for a contractor at a military station in Manipur, who has been missing for over 40 days.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, has announced a 12-hour total shutdown, protesting what they describe as the Government’s inaction on their demand for the withdrawal of central forces from Saibol.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has apologised and regretted for the ethnic violence that erupted in the state in May last year, resulting in widespread loss and displacement.
In the intense firing between hills-based militants and security forces in Imphal East, that has continued since Friday, the number of injured people has increased to three. The latest of the injuries took place on Saturday morning as gunbattle resumed after few hours of break.
