IMPHAL: Manipur’s Chief Minister N Biren Singh, on Tuesday, provided a stark update to the state assembly revealing that amidst the ongoing ethnic violence, 28 individuals remain missing since the eruption of violence on May 3 last year.
Addressing a question raised by opposition Congress MLA Surjakumar Okram, Chief Minister Singh disclosed that government reports document precisely 63 missing cases.
Out of these cases, 26 individuals were found deceased, while 9 were successfully located alive.
However, despite efforts by central and state security forces, 28 persons remain unaccounted for, amidst the challenging terrains of Manipur’s interior areas.
In response to a supplementary query, Chief Minister Singh, who also holds the Home portfolio, revealed that a total of 1555 individuals sustained injuries during the violence.
This includes 1429 civilians, 98 police personnel, and 28 central forces members, with 334 individuals suffering gunshot wounds.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Singh assured that adequate compensation has been provided to the families of the deceased and to those injured in the violence.
Earlier on March 4, the Chief Minister had informed the Assembly that the government disbursed ex-gratia payments of Rs 10 lakhs each to the families of 1014 indigenous individuals who tragically lost their lives.
Two days prior on March 2, after nearly four months of extensive search, the body of the mother of an Indian soldier, allegedly abducted by cadres owing allegiance to Arambhai Tenngol in November last year, was traced and is currently in the mortuary of an Imphal hospital, officials confirmed.
The incident dates back to November 7 when Manipur police reported that a vehicle carrying five individuals from the Kuki community en route from Churachandpur to Leimakhong was confronted by an enraged mob at Kangchup Chingkhong, leading to the forcible abduction of four individuals, while one escaped.
