People shifted from Moreh, Imphal to safer areas to save lives: Manipur CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday asserted that his government shifted people from ethnic violence-hit areas such as Churachandpur, Moreh and Imphal to safer places to protect them.

Responding to the opposition's queries on shifting of people from Churachandpur and Moreh to Imphal Valley and from the state capital to hills, Singh said, "The night violence broke out (May 3), we couldn't sleep. We were in the office discussing things to be done immediately."

"Those affected in Moreh were kept at an Assam Rifles camp and those in Churachandpur were in the Secretariat. Initially, we thought of keeping them there itself but there were constant cries for help and there was pressure from all sides claiming the affected were not safe in their present locations. Hence, with saving lives being our top priority, the government decided to evacuate them," he said.

Questions are now being raised as to why they were shifted from Churachandpur and Moreh to Imphal Valley and vice vers