Ensure Free Movement On All Manipur Roads From March 8: Amit Shah To Security Forces
Amit Shah's instruction came during a security review meeting held on Saturday. The state was put under President's rule last month following the resignation of CM N Biren Singh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday instructed security forces to ensure the free movement of people on all roads in Manipur starting from March 8. During a meeting to review the security situation in Manipur, the Home Minister emphasised that strict action should be taken against those obstructing the roads.
This was the first meeting held after the imposition of President's rule in the northeastern state, which has been experiencing ethnic violence since May 2023, resulting in over 250 fatalities.
The meeting was also attended by the Governor of Manipur, Union Home Secretary, Intelligence Bureau Director, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Army Commander of the Eastern Command, and Director Generals of Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Assam Rifles, among other officials.
President's rule was imposed in Manipur on Feb. 13 after N Biren Singh resigned as chief minister. The state assembly has been suspended.
Following the Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's Feb. 20 ultimatum for surrendering illegal and looted arms, over 300 weapons were surrendered, mainly in valley districts, including 246 firearms from the Meitei radical group Arambai Tenggol.
The deadline was extended to March 6 after residents requested more time. Several thousand arms were looted from police during ethnic violence that began 22 months ago. Bhalla has been engaging with various communities since taking office on Jan. 3 to restore normalcy.
He has also chaired several meetings in Manipur where law and order situation on the state was discussed and gave necessary directions to the security forces, officials said.
Bhalla, a former Union home secretary, who had closely worked with Shah for five years till August 2024, was handpicked by the Union home minister himself and said to have given the mandate to bring back normalcy to the restive state.
The violence erupted after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status in May 2023.
Permanent peace continues to be elusive in the northeastern state even though there have been efforts from the central government to bring the warring communities into negotiating table.
(With PTI Inputs)
