IMPHAL, October 31: Chief Minister O Ibobi has today announced Rs five lakhs relief for each of the three persons killed at the Moirangkhom bomb blast and Rs 50 thousand and Rs 20 thousand each respectively for those with serious and minor injuries.
Ibobi made the announcement at the sideline of the Rashtriya Sankalp Din celebration which was held at Congress Bhavan. However, the amount will be sanctioned after approval by the state Cabinet.
He refused to accept suggestions that the series of bomb blasts that took place in municipal areas was the outcome of security lapses, adding that the administration will not allow negligence to crop in while dispensing its duty of protecting the life and property of the public.
The Central government reluctantly agreed to lift AFSPA from parts of Imphal East and West districts, he stated hinting at the possibility that the Centre will have a different view of the removal of the act after the recent ill-fated incidents.
He remarked that the planting of bombs in public places, causing fatalities and injuries to many, is a cowardly act, particularly with the ensuing festive season in mind which is important for various communities and many people are engaged in pre-festival marketing.
He reiterated that the administration do not want to inconvenience the civilians with excessive checking even if there is necessity for safety concerns. The public may take offence and turn against the arrangement and starting blaming the government for bothering them, the chief minister added.
Ibobi appealed to the public to co-operate with the government by giving information about insurgents.
He continued that any violent act is against the state and nation which will defer development and moreover, people of the state wanted development in the state, and added that such attacks will be short-lived.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also took the opportunity to wish the Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities on the occasion of Kut and wished for peace, harmony and unity in the state.
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee today remembered Prime Minister of India (l) Indira Gandhi on her 29th death anniversary with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, MLAs, Ministers and others paid floral tribute to her portrait.