AIZAWL: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Sunday said that his Manipur counterpart N. Biren Singh has sought his help to restore peace in the neighbouring state.

During a telephonic conversation Singh also requested him to take measures for the safety of the Meitei community living in Mizoram, the chief minister said.

“The Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N Biren Singh
spoke to me over the phone at 12:30 PM regarding the Manipur ongoing violence asking for my aid in resolving the issue with a hope that henceforth there would be a peaceful co-existence. Furthermore, the request is to take means and measures for the Mizoram Meitei to settle peacefully,” Zoramthanga said in a tweet on Sunday.

He said that he assured his Manipur counterpart that the Mizoram government bemoans the ongoing violence and that it has taken certain steps and measures to abate it.

Zoramthanga also informed Singh that his government is supportive of the steps taken by the Centre and the Manipur government to restore normalcy in the state.

He informed Singh that the people of Mizoram are empathetic towards the Meiteis and that the state government and the NGOs have taken measures for peace and security.

“The Meiteis residing in Mizoram have nothing to fear as long as they are in the state. We shall go on to promote safety and security for them,” Zoramthanga informed Singh.

Over 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities in Manipur that that has been continuing for more than a month now.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals – Nagas and Kukis – constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Meanwhile, at least 196 people from strife-torn Manipur have fled to Mizoram in the past two days, raising the total number of displaced people taking shelter in the state to 11,699, according to the state home department.

As of Sunday, Kolasib district, which borders Assam, hosts 4,250 displaced people, while 3,825 have taken refuge in Aizawl district and 2,845 others in Saitual district, it said.

The remaining 779 people took shelter in eight districts- Champhai, Lunglei, Mamit, Hnahthial, Serchhip, Siaha, Khawzawl and Lawngtlai, the department said.

The government and villages have set up 35 relief camps.

However, the majority of the displaced people belonging to the Zo ethnic tribes , are sheltered by their relatives while others also live in rented houses.

The CYMA has also set up a transit camp at its premises in Aizawl.