Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had earlier canceled his election rallies in Maharashtra to assess the security situation in Manipur, is set to meet with top Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials on Monday. This comes in the wake of a violent outbreak in the Imphal Valley districts on Saturday, during which mobs attacked the homes of several MLAs, destroying property, and triggered tensions after the discovery of bodies of women and children.
On Sunday, Shah reviewed the ongoing crisis and ordered MHA officials to take immediate and effective measures to restore peace in the state, where the security situation has remained tense for several days. The Home Ministry announced that security forces have been instructed to take all necessary actions to maintain law and order in the region.
The Ministry also noted that armed miscreants from both sides of the conflict—Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities—have been engaging in violent acts, leading to both loss of life and significant disruption to public order.
In response to the escalating unrest, a curfew was imposed in the towns of Imphal West and Imphal East on Saturday. Internet and mobile data services were suspended in various parts of the state to prevent the spread of violence. Authorities have now extended these restrictions to the Jiribam and Pherzawal districts for the next two days, with police deployed to manage the law-and-order situation.
BJP MLAs to Meet CM Biren Singh
In a parallel development, BJP MLAs in Manipur are expected to convene a meeting with Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday at 6:00 PM at his residence. This meeting is seen as a response to the ongoing crisis, and it comes just one day after the National People’s Party (NPP) withdrew its support from Singh’s BJP-led government.
The NPP, led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, criticized Singh for his failure to contain the unrest between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups, which has resulted in widespread violence and displacement. The unrest, which began in May 2023 over disputes concerning government job quotas and grants, has already claimed the lives of over 250 people and displaced more than 60,000.
Government and Security Measures
The central government has vowed to take strict action against anyone found indulging in violent activities. “Strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to indulge in violent or disruptive activities,” the Home Ministry said in a statement.
The situation in Manipur remains volatile, and the government is under increasing pressure to bring stability to the state, which has witnessed months of communal violence affecting daily life.
