Manipur CM Biren Singh says sorry for unrest, promises peaceful 2025

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Saturday offered an apology for the ethnic conflict in the state, which has claimed over 250 lives and displaced thousands of people. He urged all communities to forgive past mistakes and work together towards a peaceful and prosperous future.

In a statement to the media, Singh acknowledged the immense suffering caused by the violence and expressed his regret. He stated that many people had lost their loved ones and were forced to leave their homes, adding that he deeply regretted the events. However, he expressed hope that normalcy would be restored in the new year, pointing to the relative peace experienced in the past three to four months as a positive sign.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need for reconciliation, urging all communities to move forward and leave the past behind. He appealed to everyone to forgive and forget the past, advocating for a fresh start in building a peaceful and harmonious Manipur.

Singh highlighted the progress made in restoring order, noting a significant decline in firing incidents since the ethnic conflict began in May 2023. He reported that between May and October 2023, 408 firing incidents were recorded, but the number dropped to 345 between November 2023 and April 2024. Since May this year, only 112 firing incidents had been reported.

Regarding security measures, the Chief Minister revealed that significant progress had been made in recovering weapons and explosives. He stated that 3,112 looted weapons had been recovered, and 2,511 explosives had been seized during this period.

Furthermore, Singh noted that law enforcement agencies had arrested 625 individuals and registered 12,047 FIRs in connection with the violence.

The ethnic conflict, which erupted between the Meitei community in Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups in the adjoining hills, has left a trail of destruction since May 2023. Despite the devastating impact of the violence, the Chief Minister remains optimistic about the state's future, hoping that peace will soon prevail across Manipur.

With PTI inputs