Home Minister directed officials to strictly deal in Manipur

way2barak, May 30 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday after reviewing the overall security situation in the strife torn Manipur directed the senior security officials to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace.

Shah, who arrived in Imphal on Monday night and since then held over a dozen meetings with senior officials, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), prominent organisations and leaders of tribals and non-tribals, also visited Churachandpur, one of the districts severely affected by the ethnic violence that ravaged the state since May 3, leaving at least 75 dead and over 300 injured.

Later he tweeted : “Reviewed the security situation in Manipur in a meeting with senior officials of the Manipur Police, CAPFs and the Indian Army in Imphal. Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority, and instructed them to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace.”

The Union Home Minister chaired an all political party meeting on Tuesday evening in Imphal and appealed to the leaders of parties to help in bringing normalcy and communal harmony in Manipur.

He assured all the leaders that the Center is trying its best to bring peace in the state.

“Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state,” Shah said, reiterating the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur.

A senior official said that during the all-political party meeting, the Union Home Minister informed the leaders that the five decisions taken during the Monday night cabinet meeting would be implemented in the state as part of the peace process.

These decisions include immediate steps for restoration of normalcy and bring peace in the state, take necessary action to improve law and order, expedite relief measures, compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased persons and a job to one of the family members of the victim and opening of BSNL telephone lines to dispel rumours.

During the meeting at tribal dominated Churachandpur, the Union Home Minister requested leaders to take active roles in restraining violence and said that a political solution would be initiated at the earliest.

Assuring a CBI inquiry into the violence, Shah assured them that relief of 20 ton rice would be given for tribal communities in Manipur shortly.

In reference to the demand of ten tribal MLAs (including seven ruling BJP) and other tribal leaders for a separate state for the tribals, Shah assured in the all party meeting that the territorial integrity of Manipur would not be affected at any cost and appealed to the civil society leaders to take an active role in bringing peace in the state.

After about an hour-long close door discussions in Churachandpur with various tribal leaders, intellectuals and prominent tribal citizens, Shah heard their opinions to bring back normalcy in the state.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra, Union Home Secretary A.K. Bhalla, Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Pradeep Chandran Nair, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka, Director General of Manipur Police P. Doungel and other Central and state government officials were present in all the meetings of Shah.

The Union Home Minister will visit Moreh (bordering Myanmar) and Kangpokpi areas of Manipur on Wednesday.

He will interact with the delegations of various local groups in Moreh followed by meeting with CSOs in Kangpokpi.

On Wednesday, Shah would once again hold a security review meeting in Imphal.