Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Biren Singh during a meeting in Imphal
Imphal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Manipur’s capital Imphal on May 29 night, held a series of discussions with various stakeholders to restore peace and normalcy in the troubled torn State.
Home Minister Amit Shah was accompanied by the Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Director of the Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka. After reaching Imphal, Home Minister Amit Shah held a series of meetings with political and civil society leaders from both the Meitei and Kuki communities. The Home Minister held an important meeting with the Council of Ministers, top officials of the Manipur Government, top officials of Manipur police, security forces, Indian Army and Assam Rifles.
CM N Biren Singh was also present at the meeting. Top sources of the Manipur Government told us that several resolutions were taken in the crucial meeting to restore peace and normalcy in the State. The Central and State Government has announced to give an ex-gracia of Rupees 10 lakhs to the keen of those people killed in the ongoing violence. A member of the family of those who were killed will also be provided with a Government job.
On May 30 morning, Home Minister Amit Shah met the Imas (women representatives) at the governor’s house. Besides that, the Union Home Minister also held meetings with different community leaders along with CM N Biren Singh.
After the meeting with the Home Minister, it was decided on a series of relief measures to bring back normalcy to the State. Moreover, it was decided to take urgent steps to augment supplies of essential commodities to Manipur to cool down prices which have soared since ethnic violence began on May 3.
Amit Shah’s meeting also decided to ensure that essential items such as petrol, LPG gas, rice and other food products will be made available in large quantities to cool down the soaring prices. The people’s representatives have urged the Union Home Minister to make immediate measurements for the supply of life-saving drugs, relief, and direct chopper service to Guwahati and Aizawl to lift stranded people.
On May 30, Amit Shah will visit Churachandpur, the place which saw some of the worst riotings earlier this month.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah was expected to meet the representatives of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and will hold a meeting with the Kuki MLAs.
Meanwhile, reports are coming out that a fierce gunfight has broken out between the Arambai Tenggol militants and the Assam Rifles in Sugnu in Manipur. The gunfight reportedly took place between surrendered Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (VBIG) militants and 37 columns of Assam Rifles. The incident took place at around 5:30 PM in the evening on May 28.
It should be mentioned that the conflict started in Manipur on May 3 during the solidarity march by the tribal student union, which was supported by Church’s community. The march was against the rule by the Manipur High Court in favour of the ST status demand of the Meitei community. Meiteis account for over 51 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. Militants armed with sophisticated weapons attacked the meitiei community people living in the hill districts. The violence spread across the State, and at least 80 people have been killed in the violence and over 200 injured in over three weeks.
Around 140 columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, comprising over 10,000 personnel, besides those from other paramilitary forces and State police, have been deployed to bring back normalcy in the State.
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