Manipur Violence: Amit Shah Reviews Security Situation, 5000 Paramilitary Troops To Be Deployed

Last Update:18 November 2024 19:01 IST

Sources said the home minister reviewed Manipur’s security situation with senior officials of the central and state governments

The situation in the Northeastern state, which has been struggling with ethnic strife since May last year, became unstable due to protests and violence following the discovery of the bodies of women and children. (PTI Image)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday reviewed the current security situation and deployment of troops in Manipur for the second consecutive day and directed senior officials to focus on restoring peace and order as soon as possible, sources said.

The Union Home Ministry is also sending around 5,000 paramilitary troops to Manipur to help the state government deal with the current “volatile” situation.

Sources said the home minister reviewed the security situation in Manipur with senior officials of the central and state governments.

This was the second consecutive day that Shah reviewed the situation in Manipur.

They said he assessed the deployment of central forces there and directed the authorities to restore peace and order there as soon as possible.

The situation in the northeastern state, which has been struggling with ethnic strife since May last year, became unstable due to protests and violence following the discovery of the bodies of women and children.

Angry mobs torched the houses of three BJP MPs, including a senior minister, and Congress MLAs in various parts of the Imphal Valley on Saturday night; Despite this, security forces foiled the agitators’ attempt to attack the Chief’s ancestral residence. Minister N Biren Singh.

These incidents occurred despite various restrictions being imposed after people agitated over the killing of three women and three children by militants in Jiribam district attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs in the early hours of Saturday.

Angry people destroyed the houses of Disabled Minister Govindas Konthoujam in Ningthoukhong, Hiyanglam’s BJP MLA Y Radheshyam in Langmeidong Bazar, Wangjing Tentha’s BJP MLA Paonam Brojen in Thoubal district and Khundrakpam Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar in Imphal East district. He set it on fire.

The police stated that the legislators and their family members were not at home when the gangs raided the residential areas, destroyed their properties and set fire to the houses, adding that the houses were partially burned in the incidents.

On November 11, Manipur Police said 10 suspected militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces after insurgents in camouflage uniforms and armed with advanced weapons opened indiscriminate fire on Borobekra police station and the neighboring CRPF camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam.

Police claimed that hours later, suspected militants abducted six civilians, including women and children, from the same area.

The Union home ministry on Saturday said all security forces deployed in Manipur have been directed to take necessary steps to restore order and peace in the state.

It was stated that armed traitors from both communities in conflict resorted to violence, causing unfortunate loss of life and disruption of public order.

The home ministry said strict action would be taken against anyone who tries to engage in violent and destructive activities.

Seeing the fragile situation, the Center on Thursday reintroduced the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in six police station areas of Manipur, including violence-hit Jiribam.

More than 220 people have been killed and thousands left homeless in ethnic violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo groups in the neighboring hills since May last year.

It started after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hills to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Ethnically diverse Jiribam, largely unaffected by the conflict, witnessed violence in June this year after the mutilated body of a farmer was found in a field.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)