Imphal, Aug. 15 -- Manipur chief minister Yummam Khemchand Singh in his speech on the 80th Independence Day on Saturday stressed on restoring peace and normalcy in the state to bring development.

"Peace and normalcy will be the backbone to bring development in Manipur as a first step and peace and development need to go in parallel," Khemchand said.

The CM said the Manipur government has continued its peace efforts and added 477 police vehicles. With the deployment of new police vehicles, security forces can now reach far-flung places in Manipur to monitor the law and order , he said.

Singh also condemned the killing of two civilians and the injury of two others in an alleged ambush on Friday at Langka village, Kangpokpi district. "The...