Manipur on boil, airport is the shelter

By A Staff reporter: The Manipur airport authorities have debunked claims that thousands of passengers are stranded at the airport.  Airport officials mentioned that only two dozen passengers are waiting without tickets and about 637 persons have taken shelter with confirmed tickets to fly out of the state within the next four days. Speaking exclusively to ANM News, union minister of state for external affairs and education and MP of outer Manipur, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said that efforts are being made by airport authorities to ensure safety security to the waiting passengers and give them food and water.

``Several state governments are making arrangements of special flights for their people to return to their home land,'' he said. Fierce clashes broke out between Meitei and Kuki communities with others joining ranks over a High Court direction for inclusion of Meiteis into the Scheduled Tribe. Around fifty people are feared dead and many are missing as tension and sporadic clashes continued till this noon. The Centre has rushed massive forces of CRPF and BSF along with Indian army to carry out rescue and relief operations in remote Churachandpur and Moreh regions bordering Myanmar. Reports emanating from ground zero indicated that security forces have not been able to reach many areas in remote Moreh and Churachandpur areas, the two places which were engulfed in massive violence. Imphal was also tense with sporadic clashes breaking out in areas where mixed communities were settled.