Ceasefire with NSCN(IM) not extended to Manipur: CM

Imphal, May 15 (UNI) Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today informed the state Assembly that ceasefire with the NSCN(IM) and the Union government was not extended to Manipur.

Mr Singh also informed the House that he had instructed Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh to discuss the issue of frequent harassment of officials and extortion by NSCN(IM) in Manipur with Lt Gen Kulkarni, who heads the monitoring cell.

The CM further said the NSCN(IM) cadres were involved in extortion under the very nose of troops and police at Nagaland and Pankaj. The DC of Ukhrul district was threatened by the NSCN(IM) cadres and he had to come back to Imphal, he said.

The NSCN (IM) cadres had demanded that contract works be given to the individuals supported by the NSCN(IM) and the DC was threatened with dire consequences if the demand was not heeded.

After the Manipur government contacted the monitoring cell the NSCN(IM) refuted the report, the Chief Minister said. The Centre has been approached to sanction one Indian Reserve Battalion for all the nine districts of Manipur to maintain law and order, he said.

There were no adequate security personnel in the state and some hill districts have just about 30 to 50 state forces, the Chief Minister revealed.

The first IRB has been stationed at Churachandpur, second at Bishenpur, third at Thoubal and fourth at Senapati. The fifth will be posted at Ukhrul. The Centre has sanctioned establishment of the sixth one, he further informed.

The Chief Minister was replying to a calling attention raised by O Joy and Ibohalbi over the issue of threat to the DC of Ukhrul district from the NSCN(IM) cadres.

UNI