As unrest continued in Manipur, the ruling UPA coalition at the Centre tonight discussed the situation in the state and the Government declared that it was willing to hold talks with any person or political party to find a way to restore peace in the state. Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who attended a meeting of the UPA Coordination Committee, told the members that the Government was keeping a close watch on the situation not only in Manipur but in all other Northeastern states. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters after a three-hour meeting of the Committee that it discussed various issues, including situation in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, the Manipur government tonight cremated the body of student leader Pebam Chittaranjan, who died after setting himself ablaze, as the talks between the authorities and agitators who wanted to take out a procession with the body through important areas failed, official sources said in Imphal. Chittaranjan had set himself ablaze on Independence Day at Bishenpur to press for withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Manipur and died the next day. His body was lying at the morgue of the Regional Institute of Medical Science Hospital. The authorities had asked Chittaranjan’s family and agitators to take his body as quickly as possible or it would be cremated anytime. Normal life continued to be affected in the city as markets, shops and other business establishments remained closed in response to an indefinite bandh call. Attendance in government offices was thin. All transport services in the state were also suspended in view of the bandh which had been called by the United Association of Manipuris (UAM), a 32-member outfit spearheading the ongoing agitation for withdrawal of the AFSPA from the state, they said. The bandh had been called to protest the death of Chittaranjan.
