78 people on three flights to Manipur on Sunday, 65 to neighboring states on Saturday
Post Date – 23rd Sunday, July 23rd at 11:20pm
Aizawl: Mizoram has stepped up security ahead of Sunday’s statewide protests against violence in Manipur organized in Mizoram and after reports that Metais had left the state following a statement from a former militant group, police said.
Seventy-eight people flew to Manipur on three flights on Sunday and 65 to neighboring states on Saturday. However, officials said it was unclear how many of those people were regular passengers and how many fled out of fear because these were scheduled commercial flights.
After a video of two women parading naked in Manipur state went viral, the ex-militant group asked another 41 Meites from Mizoram state to travel by road to Assam’s Kachar district.
They also added that due to the prevailing situation in Mizoram, 31 Mizo students from Manipur had also returned to Mizoram.
The NGO Coordinating Committee, a consortium of five major civil society organizations including the Central Youth Mizo Association (CYMA) and Mizo Zile Pal (MZP), will stage demonstrations across the state on Tuesday in solidarity with the Zo people in conflict-torn Manipur.
Mizoram police chief Anil Shukla held a high-level meeting on Sunday to review security arrangements, a statement said.
The statement also reviewed measures taken to ensure the safety of Metai people across the state.
Shukla directed the police to ensure proper deployment, patrolling and vigilance in various areas, especially vulnerable ones, to prevent any unpleasant incidents.
He stressed the need to have a sufficient number of reserves, vehicles and officers for rapid deployment in the event of any incident.
The Attorney General and a team of senior police officers also visited Aizawl where the demonstration will be held on Tuesday.
State police and administrative officials are closely monitoring the situation, the statement said.
Senior officials and the police are working to ensure the safety of Manipuri who live across Mizoram.
Stressing its commitment to protecting all citizens and maintaining community harmony, the State Police also urged civil society organisations, NGOs and the general public to assist them in maintaining peace and tranquility.
On Saturday, Mizoram Home Secretary H Lalengmawia held a meeting with Meitei community leaders and assured them of their safety.
The Peace Agreement Multinational Forces Returnees Association (PAMRA) also later clarified that its statement had been misinterpreted. The statement said the statement was issued as an advice to the Metai community residing in Mizoram state to proceed with caution given the public sentiment towards the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur.
