Get the killers dead or alive, CM instructs as combing ops get underway

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 7 : As the situation escalates in Manipur following the killing of two sleeping children at Tronglaobi, Bishnupur, Chief Minister Y Khemchand has instructed security forces to apprehend the militants responsible for the bomb attack, which resulted in the deaths of a toddler and a five-year-old child, dead or alive.
Speaking to the media at the CM's Secretariat this evening, Khemchand stated that it was too early to determine which group or organisation might be behind the brutal attack at this stage.
However, the Chief Minister added that he had directed the security forces to take swift action to apprehend those involved, "dead or alive," today itself if possible during a high level security meeting.
Stating that a massive combing operation has been launched by the State police, Army, and CRPF to capture the perpetrators dead or alive, he assured that the culprits would be apprehended at the earliest.
He also stated that a meeting of the ruling MLAs was held prior to the security meeting, during which a resolution was passed to hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The Chief Minister stated that the bomb attack was carried out by individuals opposed to the peace initiatives in the State.
He appealed to the public to remain calm.
Sporadic violence often emerges whenever the Government initiates peace efforts, he said and added that there are people witth vested interest seeking to derail the peace process.
He expressed concern that the recent violence may be aimed at destabilizing his Government.
However, the Government will hunt down the perpetrators responsible for killing innocent children, and justice will be served, he assured.
Acts of terrorism must be condemned and shunned immediately by all, he said.
To a query, Khemchand announced that he would chair a meeting of the Unified Command tomorrow.
He also said that the Government would investigate the CRPF firing incident, which resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals and injuries to several others.
Additionally, the Chief Minister assured that the Government would provide all necessary assistance for the treatment of the injured.
Khemchand further stated that the Government will provide ex-gratia and all possible assistance to the family of the siblings killed in the Tronglaobi bomb attack, as well as to the family of the displaced girl who was found dead yesterday.
Earlier this morning, the Chief Minister visited the mother of the deceased siblings at Raj Medicity, where she is currently receiving treatment.
On the other hand, Home Minister K Govindas stated that a hybrid security meeting, attended by the Chief Minister and the Governor, was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 20.
During the meeting, according to Govindas, Amit Shah directed the Chief Minister and the Governor to prevent the movement of armed groups in both the hill and valley districts, conduct search operations against all armed groups except those under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, and to recover all looted arms by May. To a query, he assured that appropriate action would be taken if any SoO group is found to be involved in the Tronglaobi bomb attack.
He stated that the heartbreaking incident at Tronglaobi was the work of those who seek to keep the State in turmoil and are opposed to the formation of a popular Government in Manipur.
He claimed that measures were taken to launch a massive combing operation by the Loktak Brigade of the Indian Army and Bishnupur police to nab the perpetrators, but the operation was delayed due to assemblies of enraged people at various locations.
Govindas continued that he saw social media posts showing enraged people protesting at the CRPF post at Okshongbung Khunou.
He said that he had appealed to the public to refrain from storming the post, but tragically, two people succumbed to bullet injuries, while about 26 others were injured in firing by CRPF.
In response to a media query, the Home Minister stated that whether there were any security lapses at Tronglaobi would be determined after an investigation.
He also mentioned that around 50 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) had been withdrawn from Manipur, out of approximately 100 companies, due to Assembly elections in other States.
The Home Minister added that the Chief Minister has requested the Centre not to withdraw any further CAPF units from Manipur.
He said that wider search operations would be conducted once the CAPF units assigned to election duties return to Manipur.