- Saturday, March 01, 2025
This comes just a day ahead of home minister Amit Shah’s four-day visit to Manipur starting Monday (29).
By: Shubham Ghosh
One policeman was among at least five persons that were killed in fresh violence in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur on Sunday (28). Twelve people were also injured.
Fresh violence was reported in several parts of the state that shares a border with Myanmar after alleged terrorists with sophisticated weapons set fire to several houses.
This comes just a day ahead of home minister Amit Shah’s four-day visit to Manipur starting Monday (29).
On Sunday, Manipur’s chief minister N Biren Singh said “40 terrorists” were shot dead over the last few days.
“The terrorists have been using M-16 and AK-47 assault rifles and sniper guns against civilians. They came to many villages to burn down homes. We have started taking very strong action against them with the help of the army and other security forces. We have got reports some 40 terrorists have been shot dead,” Singh, who belongs to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party led by prime minister Narendra Modi, told reporters.
He also alleged that the rise in violent attacks on civilians near Imphal Valley in the state over the last few days seemed well-planned.
Shah, meanwhile, appealed to the clashing Meitei and Kuki communities to maintain calm and peace in the state.
He has held a series of meeting with representatives from both the communities and other important stakeholders to review measures that have been taken to restore peace in Manipur.
On Saturday (27), Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande went to the north-eastern state to review its law-and-order situation.
On May 3, a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts to protest the politically influential and majority Meitie community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (one of the officially designated groups of people that are among the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups in the country) status turned violent. More than 75 lives have been lost since then.
The Kukis protested against the Meiteis’ demand as that would reportedly give them more reservation benefits and access to forest lands.
The government imposed curfews and internet bans in several parts of the state to prevent further escalation of violence.
Around 140 columns of the army and Assam Rifles, comprising more than 10,000 personnel, besides those from other paramilitary forces had been sent to Manipur to bring back normalcy.
