Shah Manipur

Imphal, May 05: Union Home Minister Amit Shah held two meetings with top central and state functionaries via video conference to assess the situation in Manipur following ethnic violence between tribal Kuki groups and the majority Meitei community. Shah also spoke to the chief ministers of neighbouring states Nagaland, Mizoram, and Assam, to discuss the situation in Manipur.

Several families affected by the violence in Manipur have sought refuge in Assam, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has pledged the full support of the state government to help those families.

The government of Arunachal Pradesh is also in touch with the Manipur government to ensure the well-being of students from Arunachal Pradesh studying in Manipur. A coordination committee has been established under the supervision of the Commissioner CMO for the safe evacuation of students from Manipur.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that they are working to evacuate students studying in Manipur and appealed to everyone to maintain peace and calm.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio activated helpline numbers for Nagaland residents in Manipur and Imphal City who require assistance.

The violence in Manipur erupted after tribal Kuki groups called for protests against a proposed change to the state’s reservation matrix, which would grant scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community. Clashes broke out in Churachandpur town, and the violence quickly spread to other parts of the state. Mobs torched houses, shops, and religious places, and even attacked a sitting lawmaker in Imphal.

Also Read: Northeast Frontier Railway Suspends Manipur-bound Trains Amid Ethnic Violence

Governor Anusuiya Uikey issued strict orders to tackle the worsening security situation, and the Indian Army urged citizens to rely only on content from official and verified sources as they scrambled to quell the violence. The Army also sounded the alert about fake videos related to the security situation in Manipur, including a video of an attack on an Assam Rifles post, being circulated by “inimical elements for vested interests.”

The security situation in Moreh and Kangpokpi has been brought under control, and efforts are underway to restore normalcy in Imphal and Churachandpur. The Indian Air Force will be undertaking flying operations to induct additional Indian Army columns from Assam to Manipur, while the precautionary buildup of additional troops in Manipur will continue, with additional columns re-deployed from Nagaland.

The situation in Manipur remains tense, but the central and state governments are taking steps to restore peace and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. It is essential for everyone to maintain calm and rely only on verified information to avoid further escalation of violence.