Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, a reconciliation team has been set up under the Chairmanship of HAC Dinganglung Gangmei.
He disclosed this while giving reply to a short duration discussion raised by MLA Th Lokeshwar and MLA K Meghachandra in the state assembly session on Monday.
Chief Minister Biren Singh said, talks have started with various members of the house who have abstained from the assembly session to bring peace and normalcy in the state.
Mention may be made that members of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) led by Dinganglung Gangmei met the Kuki legislators at Guwahati recently.
Biren further added that time has brought this crisis and time will bring change also, we need to end this crisis at the earliest so that we can live in peace and harmony like it was before. He also seeks the support and advice from the members of the house present to bring peace in the state.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday informed that a total of 221 lives were lost in the current conflict of which 198 are innocent villagers while 20 were women and eight were children.
The chief minister shared this information during the ongoing 5th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Responding to the star question of MLA K Ranjit Singh on the number of dead due to the conflict which started on May 3 last year, Biren said that ex gratia has given to 114 and verification is underway for the remaining.
Further, responding to MLA Th Lokeshwar on deployment of state security personnel at sensitive zones, the chief minister said that state security personnel are deployed on basis of ground situation and not in every constituency.
According to the ground situation, state and central forces are deployed, he added.
“Yes, there are suspicions of sophisticated weapons being used and cases of suspected sophisticated weapons have been handed over to the NIA or CBI”, CM Biren said, adding that there is no exact proof of sophisticated weapons being used though there are high chances of such.
The CM also said that some weapon materials have been collected by forensic science team and the report will be sent to the central government.
A large scale operation is yet to be initiated though combing operation is widely being conducted to be able to arrest culprits and seize arms and ammunition, the CM said, stating “We are well prepared to face all manner of incidents and there is no need to panic nor worry”.
‘Rs 859.36 crore pensioner benefits pending’
Chief minister N Biren Singh informed the house, during the ongoing 5th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Monday that a sum of Rs 859.36 crore pensioner benefits is pending payment to pensioners.
All pensions have been paid except for those who are to be paid in full amount after completion of service, said Biren. He further said that the full amount has been adjusted for state safety.
In the year 2022-23 the amount was 400 crore but it has been increased to 800 crore as it was used for state safety, he added.
The amount for commutation (pension first payment) is Rs 260.06 crore; commutation (pension ROP arrears) is Rs 220.11 crore; gratuity (pension first payment) Rs 275.24 crore and gratuity (pension ROP arrears) of Rs 103.95 crore are pending, he mentioned. However, we will try to pay all the amount by August, he added.
