Asem Bhakta
Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Saturday appealed to civil society organisations and the general public to reconsider and withdraw the proposed five-day statewide shutdown, citing concerns over public welfare and disruption to normal life.
Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal, the Minister emphasized the adverse impact of prolonged shutdowns and protests on daily wage earners, farmers, and students. He noted that educational institutions have remained closed, further affecting academic activities across the state.
Govindas Konthoujam assured that the State Government is actively considering the demands raised by the public and is committed to addressing them sincerely. He stated that most of the demands put forward by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in connection with the Tronglaobi incident have already been accepted by the government.
Referring to discussions held with the father of the two children who lost their lives in the Tronglaobi incident, the Minister said the government had offered a suitable government job to him, equivalent to his current position in the Border Security Force (BSF). Additionally, a government job was also offered to the children’s mother, who is a trained nurse. However, the family requested time to deliberate on the proposals. The subsequent announcement of a five-day shutdown, he remarked, was “highly unfortunate.”
On the recent incident at T.M. Kasom village, Govindas Konthoujam condemned the violence and termed it “deeply unfortunate.” He informed that the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) had submitted a memorandum listing several demands. These were discussed during a joint meeting attended by TNL leaders and Naga MLAs, led by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho. The government has assured compensation to the families of the deceased as per existing norms and pledged medical assistance for those injured.
The Home Minister also highlighted security arrangements in the state, stating that out of 272 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), 88 have been withdrawn due to election duties in West Bengal, with 15 more scheduled to be withdrawn. However, following intervention by the Chief Minister, 184 companies will continue to remain deployed in Manipur to maintain law and order.
He further announced the introduction of advanced security measures, including mine-protected and bullet-proof vehicles, to enhance civilian safety.
Appealing for peace, Govindas Konthoujam urged all communities to cooperate with the government and resolve issues through dialogue, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to restoring stability in the state.
The press meet was also attended by Cabinet Minister for Arts and Culture Kh. Loken and other MLAs.
