According to Kuldiep Singh, advisor to the Manipur government on security, the situation in the Northeastern state is under control as no violent incidents have been reported in the last 48 hours. In an effort to provide relief to the displaced people of Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved a relief package worth Rs 101.75 crore. This decision by the MHA followed a request by the Manipur government and a direction from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Singh also revealed that a total of 27 arms, 245 ammunition, and 41 bombs were recovered in the last 24 hours, with a combined total of 896 arms and 11,763 ammunition, and 200 bombs of different kinds recovered to date.
Curfew was relaxed for 12 hours in five valley districts and 10 hours and eight hours in neighboring hill districts with no curfew imposed in six other hill districts. Senior officers have visited and camped in vulnerable areas, and a combined team of Manipur and central forces have intensified combing operations in many parts of the state. Ministers, MLAs, and security forces are also participating in meetings with civil society organizations (CSOs), heads of different villages, and the general public to appeal for peace and normalcy.
This positive development follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah‘s appeal on June 1, after which a total of 140 weapons were surrendered at different places in Manipur on June 2. Shah had warned that strict action would be taken against those found possessing weapons during police combing operations. He had also appealed to the people of Manipur not to pay heed to rumors and maintain peace and offered deep condolences to the families of those killed in the violence.
The violence first broke out on May 3 during a rally organized by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The march was organized to protest against the demand for inclusion of the state’s Meitei community in the ST category, following an April 19 Manipur High Court directive.
