IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday apologised for the ethnic conflict in the state which has claimed over 250 lives and rendered thousands homeless since May 2023. He appealed to all communities to forget and forgive past mistakes and live together in a peaceful and prosperous state.
Addressing a press conference here, Singh said there had been relative peace in the state in the last three-four months, giving him hope that normalcy would be restored in the new year.
“I want to say sorry for what happened in the state. Many people lost their loved ones and many had to leave their homes. I regret and want to apologise. But after seeing relative peace in the last three-four months, I hope that normalcy will be restored in the coming year.
“Whatever happened has happened… I want to appeal to all communities to forgive and forget our past mistakes and start life afresh by living together in a peaceful and prosperous Manipur,” he said.
Singh said firing incidents had declined in the state over the last 20 months since the ethnic conflict began in May 2023. “From May to October 2023, 408 firing incidents were reported. From November 2023 to April 2024, there were 345 firing incidents, whereas from May this year till now, 112 firing incidents were reported,” he said.
He said of all the looted weapons, 3,112 had been recovered and 2,511 explosives had been seized during the period. As many as 625 people had been arrested and 12,047 FIRs registered so far, he added.
More than 250 people had been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year. The Chief Minister claimed that the state government was “tirelessly working to improve the law and order situation”.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, a clash between women from the Kuki community and security personnel triggered fresh tensions in Kangpokpi district of Manipur. The locals were protesting against the “forceful occupation” of community bunkers by security personnel, claimed witnesses.