IT News
Imphal, April 1:
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has credited the people of Manipur and Irom Chanu Sarmila for the lifting of Disturb Area Status from the jurisdiction of 9 police stations by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Talking to reporters at CMO yesterday, the Chief Minister said that he will invite and honour Irom Chanu Sharmila, who had underwent fast unto death protest for repeal of AFSPA.
While thanking the prime minister and the home minister, N. Biren said that the credit goes to the people of Manipur and particularly Irom Chanu Sharmila. Answering to reporters query the Chief Minister said, “Our government will invite and honour Irom Chanu Sharmila”
“Disturbed Area” status has been lifted from areas under the jurisdiction 9 (nine) Police Stations of the State with effect from today for a period of six months. He made the announcement to the media during a press conference held today at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat yesterday.
N. Biren Singh further said that , his government will also urged the government of India to lift Disturb area status from others area , however, as some of the armed rebel group are presently ensuing in suspension of operation and a political solution is yet to arrive, the government is taking some more time.
The Police Stations from which “Disturbed Area” status had been withdrawn today under Section-3 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 are Sekmai, Lamsang, Patsoi, Lamlai, Irilbung, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching and Jiribam.
As of now, the Disturbed Area had been withdrawn from 15 Police stations including 6 Police Stations withdrawn earlier i.e. Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Porompat and Heingang.
The Chief Minister stated withdrawal of Disturbed Area had been a long standing demand for the people of the State. The State Government had been informing the Central leader about the necessity of lifting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 from the State, he added. He continued that the State Government, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and support of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, had been working tirelessly to improve the law and order situation in the State. With the financial assistance of the Central Government, the State had been able to persuade many underground organisations/insurgent groups to surrender and join the mainstream.
N. Biren continued that withdrawal of Disturbed Area status had shown that the law and order situation of the State had considerably improved. He appealed to the public to support the Government’s efforts for improving the law and order further across the State so that the Disturbed Area status could be lifted from remaining areas of the State.
It may be mentioned that along with Manipur, the Government of India has reduced disturbed areas under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam.
Power Minister Thongam Biswajit, Education Minister Yumnam Khemchand, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen, Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai and Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar were also present during the press conference among others.
