India, Nov. 22 -- Embattled Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said on Thursday that he was the leader and protector of all communities in the state, except illegal immigrants and drug peddlers, swatting away suggestions that he should step down in light of the recent spike in violence because he had lost the trust of key groups and allies.

Singh's comments came days after the National People's Party (NPP) pulled out of his government amid mounting clamour for his ouster over the renewed churn in the restive state over the encounter killing of 10 suspected Kuki militants and the abduction and murder of six Meitei women and children.

Ethnic clashes in the northeastern state broke out first between the Meitei and the Kuki communities on...