IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and other senior leaders of the state met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday evening for a discussion on the present situation in the strife- torn state.
Sources said four Cabinet Ministers and the BJP State president Sarada Devi accompanied CM N Biren Singh on his visit to meet Amit Shah. The Ministers from the state present in the meeting included Th Biswajit (power), Yumnam Khemchand (rural development), Govindas Konthoujam (works) and Th Basanta Kumar (education). BJP national president J.P. Nadda also attended the meeting.
Reportedly, the meeting lasted more than two hours and the participants laid emphasis on the restoration of peace and tranquillity in Manipur, which has been wracked by violence. Information on the ground situation in the state was provided to Union Home Minister Shah.
It was also disclosed that the state leadership was advised by Amit Shah on immediate engagement with the people at large and to conduct a major connect about the situation.
The Centre has warned that anybody trying to disturb the peace in the region will be dealt with firmly, sources said.
The Manipur violence erupted on May 3 after tribal bodies organized a demonstration in the ten hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei community's demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list..
Earlier, Biren Singh appealed to the people of the state to bring back peace and calm in the state.
Meanwhile, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters have been deployed by the Indian Army to keep an eye on sensitive areas across Manipur, even as authorities worked to restore normalcy in the violence-hit state.
According to reports, the Assam Rifles, along with state government agencies and local groups have been successful in expediting the return of 124 displaced people back to Moreh in Manipur.
This move is being regarded as a significant step towards return of normalcy to the region.
Security forces have also been providing essential relief, including food, shelter and medical aid to victims of violence, apart from ensuring their security and safe escort to the returning people.
Significantly, ten tribal MLAs in Manipur have asked the centre to create a separate administration for their community. The MLAs said in a statement on Friday, "As the state of Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we seek from the Union of India a separate administration under the Constitution of India and live peacefully as neighbours with the state of Manipur.”
According to official figures, close to 70 people lost their lives, while more than 230 were injured and around 1700 houses were burnt down during the violence in Manipur. The clashes also displaced around 23,000 people.
Also Watch: