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Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has warned citizens of the state that the Centre might re-impose the Armed Forces Special Power Act in the Imphal municipal area if the different underground outfits continue to unleash their reign of terror in the city.
"When we requested the Centre for the withdrawal of the AFSPA from the seven assembly constituencies of Imphal covering the municipal area, we were cautioned against our move. We made a commitment that the state forces will be deployed to maintain law and order on a trial basis. Accordingly, the Act was withdrawn from the Imphal municipal area. But we failed to keep our commitment. Today, if the Centre asks for re-promulgation of the Act in the Imphal municipal area, we have no answer," the chief minister lamented.
Describing the sharply deteriorated law and order situation in Manipur, the chief minister pointed out that "killing, extortion, hurling of grenade and bombs are happening at regular intervals. Now even the non-Manipuri people working in the state are not spared. The other day, a daily wage earner from Bihar was killed."
"Thousands of our boys and girls are studying and working in different parts of India. If the non-Manipuri people repeat the same actions, what will happen to our boys and girls," he questioned.
The chief minister also questioned the "double face of human rights groups and activists as they joined the shouting brigade asking the government to repeal the AFSPA. But today, when the non-local innocent civilians are being murdered, they are maintaining a studied silence.''
Non-Manipuri workers in the state have started leaving the state, fearing fresh attacks from the insurgent outfits. PREPAK, an underground outfit, has already issued a statement asking non-Manipuri people to leave the state immediately or face the consequences. The deadline for the 'quit Manipur' diktat issued by the outfit expired on May 31.
The state government has already started a temporary relief camp to protect non-Manipuri people. The government has started installing close circuit televisions in different important locations including the governor's residence, the chief minister's residence, crowded markets, jails etc to keep a close watch on the movement of insurgents.
Over 33 underground outfits operate in Manipur, and most of them are divided into various factions, which fund their operations via an extortion racket.