Manipur to request Centre for interlocutor for peace talks

IMPHAL: Manipur government has decided to request the Centre to appoint an interlocutor to speed up tripartite peace talks with militant groups Kuki National Organisation ( KNO) and United People Front ( UPF) for permanent peace in the hills.

Manipur Education Minister M Okendro, who is also the state government spokesman, said a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh last evening reviewed the prevailing situation in the hill areas of the state and requested the Centre to appoint an interlocutor for tripartite peace talks with militant groups KNO and UPF.

The hills areas have been rocked by violence and nine persons were killed following the passage of three government bills to protect the indigenous people of Manipur on August 31.

The state cabinet also resolved to bring back normalcy in the hill areas of the state, particularly in Churachandpur as soon as possible and discussed ways and means to do so.