Manipur: Amit Shah, the Home Minister, visited Manipur, which is currently affected by the violence. The Centre declared 10 lakh rupees compensation to the families who died in the violence. Shah’s visit to the violence-hit Churachandpur district was marked by tribal women holding national flags and posters expressing the hope that the Centre would solve the unrest.
Earlier in the day, Amit Shah met various key figures in Imphal, including Chief Minister N Biren Singh and other senior officials. The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that during these discussions at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the participants expressed their commitment to peace and collective efforts to restore normalcy in Manipur. The Centre also emphasised its plan to establish telephone lines, in collaboration with BSNL, to counter the spread of rumours and maintain communication.
The clashes in Manipur erupted a month ago over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land. This initial conflict has since triggered smaller protests as tensions over land and political representation escalated. Notably, the clashes followed a tribal solidarity march opposing the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meitei community.
While addressing the situation in Manipur, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan highlighted that it is a law and order issue involving a clash between two ethnicities unrelated to counter-insurgency operations. General Chauhan expressed confidence in the efforts made so far, acknowledging the remaining challenges and emphasising the need for time to settle the situation in Manipur. The Centre’s visit, announcements, and discussions with various stakeholders demonstrate a concerted effort to restore peace and stability in Manipur.