Imphal, April 21: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh addressed the ongoing protests and shutdowns in the state, emphasizing that all issues can be resolved through dialogue among the concerned parties.
During the inauguration of the Block Development Office in Thoubal district’s Wangjing-Tentha, the Chief Minister stated that this new administrative block aims to strengthen governance at the grassroots level and improve service delivery to the public. A large crowd gathered to welcome him at the event.
The Chief Minister expressed surprise at the protests against his visit to Thoubal, noting that he faced no opposition during his recent tour of the hill districts. He remarked, “Various differences can be resolved through conversation. Meaningful solutions emerge only when all parties sit together.”
Referring to the tragic incident on April 7 in Bishnupur district, where two minor children lost their lives and their mother was injured, he expressed deep sorrow. He mentioned that the state government has engaged in two rounds of discussions with the victims’ Joint Action Committee (JAC), which included the state’s Home Minister K. Govindas Singh.
The Chief Minister assured that the demands of the victims’ families are being considered. He stated that the government is contemplating offering government jobs to the victims’ parents on humanitarian grounds, clarifying that this is not a form of bargaining but an effort to provide assistance.
He expressed concern over the five-day shutdown, describing such “unnecessary and meaningless activities” as creating confusion among the public and disrupting normal life. He also assured the swift construction of a 3.5-kilometer road in Wangjing.
The shutdown in five to six districts of the Imphal Valley has been called by the ‘Meira Paibis’ (women’s groups) and various civil society organizations. This protest is in response to the tragic incident on April 7 involving the deaths of two children and the injury of their mother, with suspected Kuki militants being blamed.
Since the midnight of April 18, the shutdown has severely impacted daily life in the valley. Groups of women have been seen blocking roads and halting vehicle movement. According to police reports, passenger and commercial vehicles have been absent from the roads, and shops and businesses remain closed.
In Naga-dominated areas, life has also been disrupted for the second consecutive day. A three-day shutdown called by the United Naga Council began at midnight on April 20 and will continue until April 23.
This shutdown is in protest against the killings of two Naga civilians, Chinaoshang Shokvungnao (45) and Yaruingam Washum (42), near TM-Kasom village on National Highway-2 on April 18. Both were residents of Ukhrul district, and it is alleged that suspected Kuki militants killed them while they were returning from Imphal.
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