Imphal, April 9 Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Thursday said his government was taking all necessary measures in coordination with the Centre to take action against the perpetrators of the Bishnupur bomb attack that killed two children, amid protests in the five valley districts over the incident.
The chief minister also directed the top civil and police officers to make every effort to improve the law and order situation.
After a meeting with representatives of the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) and other groups at the state secretariat, Singh said the government is in constant touch with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure an effective response and restore normalcy.
The meeting was also attended by state Home Minister K Govindas Singh and several MLAs.
The CM said the meeting discussed key concerns raised by the representatives and described the deliberations as "constructive and substantive".
Calling the Bishnupur incident "deeply unfortunate", he said it had disrupted the ongoing peace-building efforts.
"The situation has been taken with utmost seriousness," he said.
He assured that those responsible for the attack would be identified and dealt with strictly as per the law.
"The government remains firmly committed to maintaining law and order, restoring normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens," Singh said, urging civil society organisations and the public to extend cooperation in restoring peace.
The meeting was held after hundreds of people under the aegis of the AMUCO staged a rally from its office near Kwakeithel, denouncing the killings and demanding the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
Several children, holding posters of the two minors killed in the attack, also attended the rally, which was stopped by security forces from advancing further.
Later, representatives of AMUCO were escorted by the police to meet the CM at the secretariat.
A five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister were killed when suspected militants hurled a bomb at their house at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district on April 7.
Soon after the incident, a mob of around 500 protesters stormed a CRPF camp near Gelmol, a few hundred metres from Tronglaobi, and engaged in vandalism and burning of security vehicles.
In the ensuing firing by security forces, three protesters died while 30 were injured.
Earlier in the day, at Samurou in Imphal West district, hundreds of protestors attempted to head towards the CM's official bungalow but were stopped by police.
Protesters also burnt tyres and stopped vehicular movements at Moirang Lamkhai and Ningthoukhong in Bishnupur district.
Similar incidents were reported from Khurai in Imphal East district and parts of Thoubal and Kakching districts.
On Wednesday night, clashes broke out between protesters and security forces at Khurai Lamlong in Imphal East district, where agitators resorted to stone pelting, prompting security forces to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
Earlier, police arrested three suspected cadres of the United Kuki National Army during operations following the Tronglaobi incident.
However, police have yet to confirm whether those arrested were directly linked to the blast.
The CM later asked civil and police officers to closely monitor the situation in the state and make every effort to improve the law and order situation, an official statement said.
Singh made the directions during a security meeting held in view of the security scenario arising out of the Tronglaobi incident at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
The meeting was also attended by Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, the chief secretary, the DGP and other top police officers.
Singh "advised high-ranking civil and police officers to closely monitor the situation and make every effort to improve the law and order situation" an official statement said.
In a post on Facebook, Singh said, "We undertook a comprehensive review of the prevailing concerns, evaluated the measures already in place, and reinforced our coordinated response to ensure effective ground-level implementation."
The government remains firmly committed to safeguarding peace and stability, he said, adding that strong and decisive steps are being taken to prevent and neutralise any threat to public order.
"While the situation remains sensitive, I urge all citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities. Together, with collective responsibility and vigilance, we will restore normalcy and ensure a secure and peaceful Manipur," the CM added.