NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that he was planning to travel to Manipur soon and stay in the trouble- torn northeastern state for three days.
Later today, Amit Shah arrived in Guwahati for a series of events to mark the completion of two years of BJP rule in Assam.
The home minister informed that he would converse with the people of Manipur in a bid to restore peace in the violence-hit state. The move comes after Manipur witnessed a bout of fresh incidents of violence.
"I will myself go to Manipur after a few days and will stay there for three days and will talk to the people of Manipur for establishing peace," Amit Shah said.
On the violence in Manipur, Amit Shah said, "There were clashes in Manipur after a court verdict. I would appeal to both groups that they should maintain peace, and justice will be done for everyone."
Violence was sparked in several districts of Manipur earlier this month during the 'Tribal Solidarity March' to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The march was called by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung area of Churachandpur district. Clashes broke out between tribals and non-tribals as thousands of agitators took part in the rally.
In the aftermath of the violence, a curfew was imposed in eight districts of Manipur and mobile internet services were suspended in the entire state for several days. Eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land led to a series of smaller agitations leading to tensions and the cycle of violence in Manipur.
Moreover, on Wednesday, Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas’ house in Bishnupur district was laid to waste by a group of people complaining that the government in the strife-torn state has not been doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to a different community.
This is the first time in the recent violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in the state that a minister’s house was targeted. The violence started three weeks ago.
The recent violence in Manipur has claimed over 70 lives and left thousands displaced from their homes.
More than 10,000 army and para-military personnel have been deployed in Manipur to restore normalcy.
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