Manipur Violence: Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh appealed to centre to take steps to protect the territorial integrity of the state, reports news agency PTI, quoting an official. He also urged the central government not to give in to the demand for a separate administration raised by Kuki Zo groups, said the official on condition of anonymity. In a memorandum submitted to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, the chief minister made these appeals.

In the memorandum to Acharya, Singh said the Centre should ensure peace in Manipur and give adequate power to the elected state government, according to the official. Singh also called for revoking the  Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. The SoO pact was signed by the centre, the Manipur government, and two conglomerates of Kuki militant outfits—Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF). The Pact was signed in 2008 and extended periodically thereafter.

Manipur Unrest: What Raj Bhavan Said In Statement

The Raj Bhavan said in a statement that Singh met the governor along with his cabinet colleagues and submitted a memorandum. However, neither Raj Bhavan nor the chief minister shared the contents of the memorandum.

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According to news agency PTI, the statement said that besides over 20 MLAs, Singh was accompanied by assembly speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh during the meeting that lasted about an hour. The meeting took place amid fresh violence in the state , in which at least five people were killed in Jiribam district on Saturday. The chief minister had met the governor on Saturday night as well and briefed him about the situation.

Manipur Violence: Protest In Imphal Against Drone Attacks

The security forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse protestors who, after taking out a rally denouncing the recent drone attacks in Manipur, reached close to the Raj Bhavan and the CM's bungalow in Imphal on Sunday night. According to news agency PTI, thousands marched for more than 3 km along the Tiddim Road and moved towards the high-security zone when the police stopped them. A contingent of state and central forces erected barricades on the road to prevent anyone from proceeding further. They also fired tear gas shells to disperse the protestors.

The spot is close to the police headquarters, the state secretariat, and the BJP office.

The protestors also sat on the road at Keisampat and raised slogans condemning the recent drone attacks by suspected militants and the “inability” of the authorities to arrest anyone involved in the incident. They also raised slogans demanding the removal of the state director general of police for allegedly failing to stop drone attacks.

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The use of the remote-controlled small flying device as a weapon was first seen in Manipur on September 1 in Koutruk village in the Imphal West district. In the attack, in which guns were also used, two persons were killed and nine others injured.

Drones were used again in Senjam Chirang, around 3 km away, the next day, injuring three persons.