Manipur Govt Expresses Deep Regret Over Manipur Name Covering Incident

There had been no instructions or even remote thought of covering the name of the State, said a government release

The Manipur Government has expressed deep regret over the May 20 incident involving a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus ferrying journalists to the Shirui Festival, where the name of the State was reportedly covered.

In a press release issued from the office of Manipur Chief Secretary, Prashant Kumar Singh, the administration clarified that “There had been no instructions whatsoever or even remote thought of covering the name of the State, as has been alleged.”

Terming the incident as an “unfortunate” one, the government said, “The State Administration has taken the reported untoward incident with utmost seriousness and the incident is deeply regretted”.

However, the incident has triggered a wave of mass agitation across the valley districts of Manipur. Protesters, including civil society groups, student bodies, and political activists, are demanding a public apology from the Governor and the immediate resignation of the Chief Secretary, the State Security Advisor, and the Director General of Police (DGP). Demonstrators have termed the act an “insult to the people of the State.”

The State Government has assured the public that the matter is being taken with the utmost seriousness. “What transpired on the ground would be revealed after a thorough inquiry only,” the press release stated. It also said that the incident was not a result of any directive from the administration or political leadership.

In response, the Governor has constituted an Inquiry Committee comprising the Commissioner (Home) and the Secretary (IT) to investigate the incident. The committee has been directed to submit its findings in a time-bound manner. “We would like to assure all concerned that once the report is submitted and those responsible for the lapses, if any, are identified, strict action would be taken,” the Chief Secretary stated.

Reaffirming its commitment to the State’s integrity and peace, the government said, “The administration is committed to the integrity of the State of Manipur and the only aim of all these efforts is to establish lasting peace in the State.” The government further appealed to the public to cooperate in maintaining public order and unity during this critical time.

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