Speaking with chief ministers of Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, and Nagaland, Amit Shah took complete stock of the situation.
Union home minister Amit Shah held meetings with the Chief Ministers of the states neighboring Manipur, to review the situation on the ground. Earlier, paramilitary forces had been deployed in the state after violence between tribals and the Metei community wracked the state. The violent clashes broke out on Wednesday, during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’.
Amit Shah’s meetings with the ministers
Amit Shah held two video conferences on Thursday evening to review the status of the protests and security. In the morning, he held a telephone conversation with Biren Singh, Manipur’s Chief Minister, who briefed him on the situation in the state. He also spoke with Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland, Zoramthanga of Mizoram, and Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam.
The video conferences held by Amit Shah in the evening were attended by Manipur’s police chief, Manipur Chief Minister, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, and several other top-level central government officials. Apart from these calls, the home minister reportedly kept a constant eye on the situation and was in contact with officials from all the states. The state government on Thursday issued shoot-at-sight orders in extreme cases.
Deployment of troops
To contain the violent protests, 12 companies of paramilitary forces including the CRPF and BSF were deployed in Manipur on Wednesday, while 14 more were sent on Thursday. More companies are expected to be sent to the state on Friday. Following suggestions from the central government, the Manipur government appointed former CRPF chief and retired IPS officer Kuldiep Singh as its security advisor.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has reportedly asked for more troops to be airlifted to Manipur urgently, including six companies of Rapid Action Forces (RAF) from various cities. Earlier, several columns of the Army and Assam Rifles were deployed to contain the riots. Mobile internet services have been suspended in the state for five days following the violent clashes.
Manipur violence
The clashes in Manipur are between the Metei community and the Kuki and Naga communities. The Metei community is a tribal community that forms 53% of Manipur’s population and lives primarily in the Imphal Valley region. The Kuki and Naga communities on the other hand form around 40% of the population and mainly inhabit the hill districts. The Metei community is majorly a Hindu community while the Kuki and Naga tribes are majorly Christian.
The root of the riots lies in a high court order issued on April 20. The court order directed the state government to consider the Metei community’s plea to be granted Schedule Tribe (ST) status, preferably within four weeks of the High Court’s order. It also asked the government to send its recommendations to the central government within the same time period.
This decision of the high court was opposed by the Naga and Kuki communities who feel that granting ST status to a community that is already economically and socially advanced will harm the interests of the tribals in the hill districts.
On Wednesday the All Tribal Student’s Union Manipur organized the Tribal Solidarity March in 10 hill districts. Towards the end, the march turned violent in Churchandpur with clashes emerging. The riots soon spread throughout the state and led to the current situation.
Several opposition party members have commented on the situation. Rahul Gandhi tweeted about the situation, stating that he was deeply concerned with the “deteriorating law and order situation”. Mamta Banerjee has also urged the Prime Minister and the central government to restore peace in the valley.
Around 9000 people have been evacuated since the riots first broke out.
