Imphal, Dec 19: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh on Monday came down heavily on the drug mafia and illegal immigrants for the ethnic strife that has rocked the state for months.
While addressing a gathering at Lilong in Thoubal, N.Biren Singh said, “The present conflict is engineered by drug mafia groups and illegal immigrants who have suppressed the voice of the original tribes. The war is not between Meiteis and Kukis, but between the government and the illegal immigrants,”.
“Everyday, I keep contact and communicate with my old Kuki friends through phone. They are helpless and unable to speak the truth as they are being intimidated by guns,” Singh stated.
CM N.Biren Singh further added, “More than 6,000 immigrants have entered Kamjong district from Myanmar” due to fighting between the neighbouring country’s military and anti-junta groups. Police teams have been sent to monitor the situation, collect biometric details and make arrangements to provide them temporary shelters,”.
Nearly 200 people have died and over 60,000 have been rendered homeless due to the ethnic conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May.
