Union Home Minister Amit Shah today warned of strict action against those who did not surrender arms in violence-hit Manipur. He also announced a probe into the violence and a peace committee as part of a plan to restore stability in the state.
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A panel led by a retired Chief Justice will probe the ethnic violence in Manipur, Amit Shah said, addressing a press conference after a series of meetings during his four-day visit to the northeastern state.
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A peace committee would be set up under the Governor and security advisor Kuldeep Singh with members of Civil society.
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Six cases related to the violence will be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI. “The probe will be conducted by CBI, under the guidance of the Centre. I assure everyone that the probe will be neutral and will go to the roots of the reasons behind the violence,” Mr Shah said.
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The Home Minister also warned of stern action against militants who looted weapons from security personnel. “If they don’t surrender the weapons, very strong action will be taken,” he said.
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The Manipur government and the Central government will provide Rs 5 lakh compensation each to the families of those killed in the violence, Mr Shah said. “The compensation will be provided through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer),” said Mr Shah.
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The Home Minister, responding to NDTV’s question, said he had also held discussions on the perceived public distrust towards the state government.
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The state witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between insurgents and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for over a fortnight.
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With the state government unable to control the situation even after a month, members from the Kuki-Hmar-Zomi-Mizo tribes on Wednesday held a protest demanding that the Chief Minister be sacked and President’s rule implemented in the state.
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The ethnic violence first broke out after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
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Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute another 40 percent of the population and reside in the hill districts. So far, over 80 people have been killed in the violence, according to officials.
