IMPHAL, January 11: The State should take the initiative and recommend to the Prime Minister to compensate the victim families of the unfortunate May 1993 Meitei-Meitei Pangal riot, said Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) Political
Forum Manipur spokesperson MI Khan during a press meet at the Manipur Press Club today.
He said that the government compensation provided to the victim families during the time was only in namesake.
The organisation would have to take the help of the law in case the government fails to listen to the demand he warned.
In an unfortunate riot between the two communities ignited by a simple mistake in 1993, 140 people were killed including three whole families and 25 others were injured he said.
The riot was controlled only after the intervention of several civil organisations of the State MI Khan said.
Many of the victims of the riot are still surviving under difficult conditions he asserted.
The NDA government had last month provided Rs 3 lakhs and Rs 5 lakhs monetary assistance to the victims of the 1984 Punjab riot, MI Khan observed strengthening the organisation`™s demand.
As the government has provided the compensation to the Punjab riot it is only pertinent that the victims of the Meitei-Meitei Pangal riot are also compensated, MI Khan continued.
General secretary Abdul Jabar said victim families of the 1993 riot should come forward and contact the Hatta office of the organisation before January 30 as it is trying to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the State Chief Minister after listing out the names of the victims.
Meanwhile, PPF women`™s wing president Leina Shahani also warned of serious agitation in case the demand is not fulfilled.