Imphal: Amid ongoing operations against militant groups and armed miscreants, the police and central security forces destroyed as many as 12 bunkers constructed by militant groups. Army, Assam Rifles, central Paramilitary forces and Manipur police conducted several counter-insurgency operations in various districts in the violence-hit state and destroyed 12 bunkers constructed by militant groups in the last 24 hours, police said on June 26.
A statement issued by Manipur Police stated that the police and central forces carried out a search operation in Tamenglong, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Kakching districts and destroyed the 12 bunkers. These bunkers were allegedly made by militant groups to hide after attacks on civilians and security forces.
A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered by the security forces from those destroyed bunkers. Manipur Police said that during the search three 51 mm mortar shells and three 84 mm mortar shells were found in the paddy field of Sahumphai village and one IED was found in a paddy field between Kangvai and S. Kotlian villages. The mortar shells and IED were defused at the spot by the State Bomb Disposal Team,” said the statement.
According to the security adviser of the Manipur government Kuldeep Singh, a total of 1100 arms, 13702 ammunition and 250 bombs of different types have been recovered so far by the security forces across the state.
It should be mentioned that mobs in violence-hit Manipur looted over 4,000 weapons, along with hand grenades and ammunition, creating a major security challenge for the security forces. These weapons were used in massive violence that has continued in Manipur since May 3.
Background
On March 27, the Manipur High Court directed the Manipur government to reply to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry on a file related to the request to include the Meiteis on the ST list. The High Court had noted in its order that the Meitei community had submitted several requests for ST status to the Government of India from 2013 onwards. Based on that demand and formalities, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs forwarded the matter to the State government for a formal recommendation. But the State government didn’t respond to the request by the Tribal Affairs Ministry for an extended period, creating disappointment amongst the Meiteis. In the March 27 order, the Manipur High Court directed the State government to respond to the Union government’s recommendation urgently.
Further, the High Court, in its order, said, “The first respondent shall consider the case of the petitioners for inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, preferably within a period four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.”
MTU advocate Ajoy Pebam told the media that, per the Supreme Court’s earlier order, inclusion or exclusion of any community in or from the ST list is the prerogative of the Parliament and the President. So we have filed the petition to revise the Single Bench order passed on March 27. Advocate Pebam further said that the MTU wants the Manipur government to respond to the letter since it is not authorised to grant ST status.
It should be mentioned that the Hindu Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mainly in the Imphal Valley. Kuki and other tribes constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
Clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 during the solidarity march organised by the Tribal Students Union against including the Meitei community in the ST list. Over 110 people have lost their lives, and more than 350 people, including an MLA and several security personnel, were injured in the continuing violence, which persisted for over a month.
41,014 arson cases were registered during the violence, and over 45,000 people were displaced in the clashes. Over 14000 Army, Assam Rifles, paramilitary forces and state security forces are engaged in Manipur to control the law and order situation and restore peace and normalcy in the North-eastern state.
