Kolkata, Nov 14: Defence Minister George Fernandes today said he rushed to Imphal because of the "serious" situation prevailing in Manipur. "The situation is serious in Manipur and that's why I am going there," Fernandes, who made a stop-over here en-route to Imphal from New Delhi, told reporters here.
He said this responding to a query if the Centre has any plan to deal with the situation in Manipur.
The Defence Minister did not comment when asked whether Army's presence would be stepped-up in the state in view of the prevailing situation.
Meanwhile, a report from Imphal said that indefinite curfew, imposed after the recovery of the body of eight-year-old Lungnila Elizabeth, was today lifted from four valley districts of Manipur.
The curfew was imposed on Wednesday to prevent any untoward incident after the recovery of the body of Elizabeth, daughter of the Manipur minister for general administration, Francis Ngajokpa.
Elizabeth was kidnapped for ransom by about six unknown persons on November 04 and her body was recovered from a pond near her school here on November 12. Bureau Report