SIT will investigate the murder of five people in the firing in Manipur, the government will give Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased

The Manipur government on Thursday formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the January 1 firing incident in the Lilong Chingjao area of Thoubal district. The death toll in this incident has increased to five. The state government also announced the formation of a six-member special investigation team headed by Yeripok SDPO Mohammad Riazuddin Shah.

Among the injured, Mohammad Abdur Razak died at a private hospital in Imphal on Wednesday night. He was a key official of the local anti-drug organization Anjuman. This came after the local group signed an MoU with the state government in the presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday. An FIR was filed about the murders after the state government promised to provide Rs 10 lakh to each of the deceased's relatives, Rs 5 lakh to each of the critically injured, and Rs 1 lakh to each of the moderately injured. The decision to cremate the dead was made by the Joint Action Committee. 

Journalists were informed by committee convener Mohammad Habibullah that the state administration had promised to give the deceased's families jobs. Meanwhile, a fire in the New Lambulane neighbourhood of Imphal, Manipur, on Thursday night destroyed four empty residences. To contain the fire, three fire engines were sent into action. According to an official, the exact cause of the fire that spread to the pucca dwellings, which included a two-story structure, is yet unknown.