Manipur CM files case on two separatists who declared 'govt-in-exile'

Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh on Wednesday strongly condemned an "announcement" of the formation of "Manipur Government-in-exile" in the United Kingdom by two separatists. Singh informed that a case has been registered against the duo for allegedly "waging war against the state".

"The government takes it very seriously and has registered a case for waging war against the State. The case has been handed over to Special Crime Branch for an immediate investigation," CM Singh said. The Chief Minister asserted that the case will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after all the necessary details are collected. The federal agency can probe the matter since the two are operating from foreign countries. 

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Manipur State Council

Two dissident leaders from Manipur claiming to represent King Leishemba Sanajaoba on Tuesday announced the launch of the "exile" government. Addressing a press conference, Yamben Biren, claiming to be the "Chief Minister of Manipur State Council" and Narengbam Samarjit, claiming to be the "Minister of External Affairs and Defence of Manipur State Council" said they were speaking on behalf of the 'Maharaja of Manipur' to formally launch the "Manipur State Council". They also claimed that they had been granted political asylum in the UK in August.

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"We believe that now is the right time to make public the Independent Government of Manipur before the international community and seek recognition. We call on all the Governments of the sovereign States of the members of the United Nations for their recognition of the de jure and exile Government of the Manipur from today onwards," they said.

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Responding to their claims, Sanajaoba said, "I condemn this in the strongest term, it was shocking that they two dragged my name in the case. This will create negative energy in society." The separatists claimed their "attempts to engage with the Indian government were met with hate and hostilities" and alleged that more than 1,528 cases of "extrajudicial killings" are pending in Supreme Court.

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(With ANI and PTI inputs)