Manipur: Over 50,650 displaced people living in 350 relief camps

 IMPHAL: Over 50,650 men, women, and children displaced by Manipur's ethnic violence were sheltered in 350 camps, Information and Public Relations and Health Minister S. Ranjan said here on Sunday.

The Minister said that district and cluster nodal officers have been deputed to take care of and look after the relief centres set up in more than 10 districts in Manipur, which have witnessed devastating ethnic violence since May 3, killing 105 people and injuring over 320.

He said that relief centres have also been opened specially for pregnant women, and special care has also been taken for lactating mothers, elderly people, and children.

Ranjan stated that goods and essential commodities are being brought through the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway via southern Assam, and so far 2,376 trucks loaded with 35,000 metric tonnes of construction materials, fuels, and essential commodities have been brought into the state.

The state government is trying to make Khongsang railway station operational within the next 10 days for convenient transportation of essential items. Helicopter services from Moreh-Imphal, Imphal-Churachandpur, and Imphal-Kangpokpi have already started, the minister added.

Various Kuki tribal organisations continue to block the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in Manipur, creating a serious problem for transporting essentials, foodgrains, transport fuel, and life-saving drugs.

Though the state government, with security escorts, has been trying to ferry various essentials from different parts of the country through the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), the NH-2 (via Nagaland) is considered the lifeline for Manipur.

Ranjan, who is also the spokesman of the government, said that so far, a total of 990 arms and 13,526 rounds of ammunition have been surrendered to the government. "Combing operations have been continued by the Army and other central and state forces in all districts, particularly in vulnerable areas, to nab the militants and miscreants," said the minister.

Media reports claimed that thousands of different types of arms and a large quantity of ammunition were looted by mobs and miscreants from many police stations and security camps after the riots broke out on May 3.

Noting that the education roadmap for the affected students is being chalked out by the government, the minister said that the details of the government plan would be announced very shortly by the Education Minister concerned. Regarding the banking sector, out of the 242 branches, 198 are operational as of now, and the rest will be functional at the earliest, he stated.

Ranjan said that a price control mechanism was put into force to check the price rise of essential commodities. (IANS)

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