Imphal: Chief Minister Manipur N. Biren Singh on Monday said that all those living in the State are Manipuri, we have lived together for ages and the government shares the grief and sorrow of the people affected by the recent violence in the State, and that responsibilities will be fixed on all those who instigated the violence.

Briefing media persons at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday evening, N. Biren Singh said that a high-level enquiry will be conducted at the earliest to fix responsibility on the persons and groups who instigated the violence and government servants who abdicated responsibility.

The government machinery is working round the clock including all Ministers, legislators and concerned authorities to resolve the crisis, he added.N. Biren Singh also appreciated Central leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah for immediately reacting to the volatile situation in the State and sending paramilitary forces and Security Advisor among others to contain the violence.

At present, 50 companies of Central Armed Police Force and 105 columns of Assam Rifles/ Army along with 30,000 State police forces are being deployed in various parts of the State in order to maintain law and order, he added.
The situation is under control in almost every part of the State and paramilitary forces have been deployed at sensitive areas, the Chief Minister continued.

Till date 35,655 persons have been moved to safe locations and from amongst this, 1,593 have travelled outside the State, who are mainly students, the Chief Minister said adding that from the shelter camps, around 20,000 people have moved to their houses/ villages, he added

Highlighting that Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh has been made in charge of overseeing relief arrangements, the Chief Minister said that all who are stranded at different locations are being provided best possible care and support in safe locations/ shelter camps.

Ministers Y. Khemchand, K. Govindas and Awangbow Newmai have also been appointed as Ministers-in-charge to oversee transportation of stranded persons.Further stating that no discrimination is made in efforts to protect live and property, the Chief Minister also appealed to all not to hinder the efforts to transport families and people back to the safety of their homes.

N. Biren Singh also said that homes that have been burnt down/ damaged will be rebuilt and that Superintendents of Police (SP) have been directed to identify vulnerable areas and ensure round-the clock provision of full-proof security and protection for land and property, in the absence of their owners till resumption of normalcy in the respective areas.
Further the SPs have been directed to take immediate action as per the law against persons attempting to loot or occupy such land and property, the Chief Minister said adding that concerned SPs will be held personally accountable for any lapses in this regard.

The Chief Minister said that the government has approved to extend ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakhs for the dead/ expired. Compensation of Rs 2 lakhs for the grievously injured, Rs. 25,000 for the non-grievous injuries and upto Rs. 2 lakhs as relief for families whose houses have been burnt down, after proper assessment by the authorities have also been approved, the Chief Minister said.

Let us all strive to bring peace and normalcy in the shortest possible time, he said, before appealing to the public to extend their maximum cooperation to security forces to enable them to execute their tasks. Public are also requested to cooperate and assist in creating a safe and conducive environment to enable affected families to return to their respective homes, the Chief Minister said, while stressing that curfew relaxations have started in all districts, to enable people to buy essentials.

“I appeal to all not to spread or believe in unfounded, unverified and baseless rumours,” the Chief Minister urged.
Ministers Th. Biswajit Singh, Y. Khemchand, Govindas Konthoujam, Awangbow Newmai, Dr. Sapam Ranjan, Th. Basanta Kumar Singh, Khasim Vashum, MLAs R.K. Imo Singh, K. Robindro Singh, Leishiyo Keishing, Th. Arunkumar Singh and Janghemlung Panmei were also present during the press briefing by the Manipur Chief Minister.