The Manipur government will pay an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh each to the families of S. Singh of Uttar Pradesh and D. Singh of Mumbai, who were murdered in Myanmar on February 11.
The two traders had crossed the border from Moreh for a shopping trip, but were abducted and murdered. The burnt and mutilated bodies were brought to the police station in the town on Thursday.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh visited the families at the J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences here, where the post-mortem was conducted on Friday.
Mr. Singh told presspersons that the State government had requested the Centre to get in touch with the Myanmar government for the arrest of those who had killed the traders. The residents of Moreh sealed the international border in protest. Hence, a team from Myanmar, including two Ministers, could not travel to Guwahati to participate in a meeting.
The people took out a protest march on Friday. After three State Ministers arrived on Friday evening to defuse the crisis — border trade has come to a standstill — community leaders announced that the border blockade was being lifted till March 15.
But trade would not be allowed. If Myanmar could not ensure the safety of Indian traders and businessmen, the border would be sealed again.
The community leaders asked traders and tourists not to go beyond Namphalong.
Later, they submitted a memorandum to Governor V.K. Duggal, demanding the safety of traders in the border town.
