Manipur violence: Death toll rise to 59; curfew relaxed in several districts

The death toll after ethnic clashes in Manipur rose to at least 59, with five more dead bodies retrieved in the last 24 hours, official sources said on Sunday.
Source said that the police recovered five more dead bodies from different parts of the state and transferred them to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal morgue, where now a total of 28 dead bodies are at the morgue.
According to reports, there were 15 dead bodies kept at JNIMS morgue, Imphal and 16 Churachandpur district hospital morgue. The deaths included six women, sources said. Unofficially, sources said that the death toll could be more.
Though there has been an uneasy calm in Manipur with thousands either taking refuge in neighbouring States or being evacuated from conflict zones by their respective governments, life started limping back to normalcy on Sunday with people seen coming out in large numbers to buy food, medicines and other essential commodities.
Security advisor on Manipur violence Kuldiep Singh said on Sunday that the situation in the state was under control. He further said that some areas of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Moreh are still tenseand peace meetings were held in these areas.
According to ANI report, Kuldiep also informed that 134 arms have been recovered so far from the looted arms. “…Till now, 134 arms have been recovered from the looted arms,” he told ANI.
Curfew was relaxed in several parts of the state including Churachandpur with specific timings.
The Army in a statement said that the last 24 hours saw the army significantly enhancing surveillance efforts through aerial surveillance, movement of UAVs, and redeployment of army helicopters within Imphal Valley. The statement further said that 23,000 civilians had been rescued so far.
Meanwhile, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey chaired a meeting with the newly appointed security advisor to Manipur government Kuldiep Singh and additional DGP Ashutosh Sinha, the overall operational commander of the present turmoil arising in the state.
Uikey also said she had already made fervent appeal to all the sections of the society to amicably solve the problem through peaceful dialogue. The governor was confident that through the efforts of all stakeholders, the issue would be resolved and peace and tranquillity restored in the state.
CS appointed: Manipur government on Sunday appointed Vineet Joshi, a 1992 Manipur cadre IAS officer, as the new chief secretary of the State.
Joshi, who recently returned from Central deputation, will replace Dr Rajesh Kumar, whose was given a six-month extension in December 2022.
Sources said that Joshi has superseded three other IAS officers of Manipur cadre- MH Khan (1988 cadre), Moses Challai (1990 cadre) and P Vaiphei (1991 cadre).
Joshi’s appointment as chief secretary came after the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet of the government of India approved repatriation of Vineet Joshi to his parent cadre on the request of the Manipur government.