Wangkhei Kendra Peace Committee on Tuesday urged the state government to book those spreading rumors of the Lilong incident on social media, raising concern that it could lead to further escalation of unwanted incidents.
Peace committee chairman RK Gokulchandra Singh told the media on Tuesday at Citizen’s club, Soibam Leikai, Imphal East that regarding the Lilong Chingjao incident, some of the individuals are spreading rumours with half cooked information on social media which could mislead people of the Meitei and Meitei Pangal.
He appealed not to spread rumors with half cooked information and urged the state government to book those who are spreading rumors on social media in connection with the incident.
President of Meitei Pangal Council Manipur (MPCM) Haji Arafat Ali said he strongly condemned the Lilong incident and expressed disappointment over the spreading of rumors on social media which could mislead people of the two communities.
To clarify the people of Manipur in connection with the incident, MPCM along with Wangkhei Kendra Peace Committee and representatives of other communities residing in Wangkhei assembly constituency conducted an emergency meeting on Monday night in order to prevent the people from the rumors.
He appreciated the people for understanding that the Lilong incident was not related to any communal violence.
Meitei and Meitei Pangal have been settling together since their forefathers by safeguarding Manipur on various occasions. Haji further appealed to the people not to pass hatred comments on social media with half cooked information for peaceful coexistence among the people of the two communities.
Meanwhile, representatives of CSOs of both Meitei and Meitei Pangal and renowned persons, including MLAs, delivered a message on social media not to follow the rumours that could mislead the society.
As a part of the preventive measures initiated by the state government, indefinite curfew was imposed on late evening of Monday in three districts including Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal district. However, no further wanted incidents occurred.
Later on Tuesday, concerned DCs of the three districts issued an updated order for curfew relaxation from 5 am to 10 pm until further order.
Representatives of Telis of Wangkhei assembly constituency were also present during the press conference.
