Imphal, Oct 15 Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Thursday said government efforts and security measures alone could not end the ethnic violence in the state unless people developed mutual understanding and resolved their differences through dialogue.
Konthoujam made the remarks while visiting 84 BSF personnel admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal with suspected food poisoning.
Asked about killings allegedly carried out by militants in the state, he said, “When the general people do not have humanity, then nobody can stop killing each other. We should understand that.
“We should be a civilised society. The government cannot do everything, even though it is trying its best to control the violence. Everything should come to an understanding. Killing will never solve any problem. We should talk to each other, and all differences should be resolved through dialogue,” he said.
The minister said the government was working to initiate dialogue, but stressed that society and the people also had a role to play in restoring peace.
“Security alone cannot solve the problem. We, the society and the people, should also try to restrain any kind of anger,” he said.
Asked whether militants covered under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact could be arrested, Konthoujam said anyone involved in serious crimes could be taken into custody.
On the condition of the BSF personnel admitted to RIMS, he said they began vomiting after eating ‘puri-sabji’ for breakfast around 8.30 am.
Their blood pressure dropped, and a total of 84 personnel were admitted to the hospital, he said, adding that all were stable except one, who remained under observation.
Konthoujam praised RIMS doctors and staff for providing care to the personnel.
(PTI News)
