Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to review security situation in Manipur on Monday (June 17). Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Army Chief (Designate) Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, GoC Three Core HS Sahi, Security Advisor to Manipur Kuldiep Singh, Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh and Assam Rifles DG Pradeep Chandran Nair were present at the meeting. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was not present at the meeting.
What happened at the meeting?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will talk to both Meitei and Kuki communities at the earliest so as to bridge the ethnic divide in restive Manipur.
Reviewing the security situation in Manipur, Shah also said that the central forces deployment will be increased, if required, and that they should be deployed strategically to restore peace and tranquillity in the state, according to an official statement.
He directed that strict action must be taken as per law against the perpetrators of violence in the northeastern state. Shah also directed to ensure that no further incident of violence take place in the state which has been witnessing ethnic clashes for over a year.
The MHA will talk to both the groups, Meiteis and Kukis, so as to bridge the ethnic divide at the earliest, Shah was quoted as saying in the statement. He also instructed the chief secretary of Manipur to ensure proper health and education facilities for the displaced people and their rehabilitation. The home minister said that the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is fully committed to ensure safety and security of all citizens of the northeastern state.
Shah also reviewed the situation in relief camps, especially in respect of proper availability of food, water, medicines and other basic amenities. He underscored the importance of coordinated approach to resolve the ongoing ethnic conflict.
Ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023 after a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Since then, over 220 people belonging to both Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel have been killed in the continuing violence.
(With PTI inputs)
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