20 women, 8 children among 221 people killed in Manipur conflict, says Chief Minister

IMPHAL — Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said that 221 people, including 198 civilians, 20 women and eight children have been killed in the ethnic conflict which broke out on May 3 last year.

Replying to a question by posed by opposition Congress MLA Kangujam Ranjit Singh in the ongoing session of the 12th Assembly, the CM said that the government has started provided ex-gratia to the next kin of 114 victims, while the verification process is underway for the remaining under the central and state governments’ ex-gratia scheme.

The government had earlier announced INR 10 lakh each to the victims of the violence in the state. More than 50,000 people were displaced due to the ethnic conflict and they are presently taking shelter at relief camps set up in different parts of the state, it was informed.

Responding to a question by opposition Congress MLA Thokchom Lokeshwar Singh during the question hour of the ongoing assembly session, Singh said that 6,746 illegal Myanmarese were detected in the state from May 3 last year till February 27 this year.

Out of these, 259 have been sent back after taking biometrics while the remaining are being given temporary shelter at suitable places with humanitarian support, he added.

It may be mentioned that the state government had, in March 2023, planned to set up a temporary shelter home that can accommodate around 5000 people for illegal immigrants after Myanmar nationals started entering Manipur in view of the escalating crisis in the country.

The staee shares a 109-km border with Myanmar.