Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Sunday said that the current crisis in Manipur is not a clash between ethnic groups, and also not a law-and-order issue of the state, but "purely a war against the Indian Union by Myanmar and Bangladesh based Kuki militants in collaboration with militant groups operating in Manipur".
The Chief Minister said the unrest was instigated by a group of people who want to disintegrate the state, but the crisis has been "made to look like" an ethnic or communal clash, or religion based, or between the "majority and minority groups".
Biren Singh said that "however, with the voice of people, the real cause has come up". Recalling the statement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament and by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Manipur violence and more importantly the statement of the National Investigation Agency on the arrest of one terror suspect, Seiminlun Gangte, on Saturday, the Chief Minister spoke on the "clear causes" of the crisis.
"As the issue is war against the Indian Union, the Central government would further take up necessary measures to tackle it," he said.
Referring to the arrest of four suspected accused by the CBI in connection with the killing of two young students, including a girl, Biren Singh lauded the swift action taken by the probe agency along with the army, paramilitary forces and the state police.
He reiterated the firm stance of the state government to make sure that the culprits are given stringent punishment as per law.
Initially, six persons, including two women, were arrested in connection with the killing of two students, but as two were minor girls, they were handed over to their relatives at Imphal airport.
The Chief Minister appealed to the people to obey the rule of law like seeking permission from concerned Deputy Commissioners while carrying out protests and rallies.
He continued that misunderstanding and confrontation between protesters and security forces could be avoided "if we follow rules".
Meanwhile, in another development, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, on Sunday, called an indefinite shutdown in Churachandpur district in protest against the "abduction of 7 Kuki-Zo people including two minors".
The ITLF urged the NIA and CBI to release the seven abductees within 48 hours, "failing which more intense agitation will follow in all hill districts of Manipur".
"All boundary areas with the Meitei inhabited areas will be sealed from tomorrow (Monday). No one will be allowed to enter or leave the buffer zones. All government offices will be closed from tomorrow (Monday)," said Ginza Vualzong, ITLF spokesperson.
'My name is the guarantee of security in the country', PM Modi says in Karnataka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that his name is the guarantee of security in the country, adding it was his primary duty to protect the citizens of the nation.
9 held for gang rape of minors in Meghalaya
Nine persons were arrested by the police in connection with the rape of minor girls in the South West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, officials said on Sunday.
Indian Coast Guard apprehends Pakistani boat with huge consignment of narcotics
In a major success, the Indian Coast Guard, following an overnight aerial-maritime joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), on Sunday apprehended a Pakistan boat in the Arabian Sea, west of Gujarat's Porbandar, and seized a large haul of narcotics.
Decision to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should have been taken on next day of Independence, PM Modi says in K'taka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the decision to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should have been taken the very next day after the country achieved Independence in 1947.
Rahul slams BJD-BJP in Odisha rally, says both in collusion to benefit few corporates
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stepping up the party’s campaign in Odisha on Sunday lashed out at the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government and the opposition BJP while accusing them of having ‘married’ each other for personal gains and befooling the public.
PM Modi has already scored a century in first two phases of LS polls: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already scored a century of seats in the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls.
Govt extends shutdown of schools in Tripura till May 1, heat wave alert extends
In view of the intense heat wave, the Tripura government has announced an extension of shutdown of all government aided schools and privately managed schools till May 1 next.
Despite having a woman CM, females in West Bengal most unsafe: JP Nadda
BJP national president J. P. Nadda on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, saying that despite having a woman chief minister, females in the state are most unsafe.