Police and security personnel in Manipur. Representative image.
Credit: PTI Photo
Guwahati: The administration in conflict-hit Manipur on Friday issued a stern warning to individuals and groups issuing threats to citizens and trying to disturb peace saying those found guilty would be persecuted in accordance with law.
The warning came after Valley-based insurgent groups allegedly issued threats to some cultural troupe who performed Shumang Leela, a Meitei theatre, at the Sangai Festival. The festival was organised between November 21 and 30 after a gap of two years, despite protests by those displaced by the ongoing Meitei-Kuki conflict and others. Some organisations also allegedly warned Biswajit Singh and Basant Kumar Singh, two senior BJP MLAs, who had attended the inaugural function of the festival on November 21.
Manipur has remained under President's Rule since February.
Cases, arrests:
Manipur Police on Thursday registered separate cases against five valley-based insurgent groups and even arrested three cadres on charges of issuing threats.
"Any attempt to intimidate or endanger the safety and security of any citizen is an act against the State and its people. The State reaffirms that no individual, group or organisation, whether proscribed or otherwise, has the authority to issue decrees, impose punishment or restrict lawful cultural, economic or artistic activities in Manipur. Any individual or organisation, without exception, found involved in issuing such threats or attempting to disturb the peaceful co-existance shall be prosecuted in accordance with law," Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said in a statement on Friday.
It asked people to inform the nearest Police station about any incidents or threats, intimidation and extortion for legal action.
Protest by IDPs:
Meanwhile, the internally displaced persons (IDPs) continued their protests in several relief camps in the Valley demanding steps for their return to their original homes in Kuki-dominated districts. A letter submitted by the IDPs and the Coordination Committee on Manipur Unity "reminded" Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to meet the deadline of December for resettlement of the displaced persons. Several IDPs were injured in the past two weeks while they were stopped by security forces from forcefully going back to their villages in Kuki-dominated areas.
On Thursday, 257 IDPs belonging to 64 families living in a relief camp in Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district were facilitated by the administration to return to their original homes at Leimaram Waroiching in Bishnupur. The administration, however, is not allowing those from the Kuki-dominated districts to go back fearing fresh violence.