Peace in Manipur top priority, instructed officials to strictly deal with anyone disturbing peace: Amit Shah

Amit Shah during a meeting with officials. Pic/Twitter/Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the government's top priority is peace and prosperity in Manipur and he has instructed security officials to strictly deal with any activities that disturb peace.

Shah said this after a review meeting with senior officials of Manipur Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Indian Army here.

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"Reviewed the security situation in Manipur in a meeting with senior officials of the Manipur Police, CAPFs and the Indian Army in Imphal. Peace and prosperity of

Manipur is our top priority, instructed them to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace," he tweeted.

The home minister is currently visiting Manipur as part of efforts to bring back peace in the ethnic violence-hit state.

On the second consecutive day of his four-day long visit to Manipur, Union Home Minister on Tuesday chaired an all-party meeting, met prominent personalities and women leaders to restore normalcy in the violence-hit state.

Shah held the all-party meeting at the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh's residence here in Imphal in the presence of his colleague Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and discussed issues linked to the violence as well as its current situation and a detailed plan to control the violence and restore normalcy in the state.

Earlier in the day, the Home Minister held a meeting with prominent personalities in Imphal and they expressed their commitment to peace and assured that "they would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur."

The Minister also held a meeting with a group of women leaders (Meira Paibi) in Manipur.

Shah reiterated the significance of the role of women in the society of Manipur, and said that "together, we are committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the state."

He also held a meeting with the delegation of different Civil Society Organizations in Imphal.

Shah, who is on a four-day visit to Manipur till June 1, chaired a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister and ministers of the state, senior leaders and officials soon after he arrived in Imphal on Monday evening and assessed the situation and chalked out a plan for further steps to restore normalcy in the region.

In that meeting, Union Minister for State Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, and Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka among other officials concerned in the state as well as the Centre took part. The meeting was conducted as fresh violence hit the state a day ago.

During his stay in Manipur till June 1, the Home Minister will hold several rounds of security meetings.

The visit was scheduled as five persons, including a Manipur Police Officer, were killed, a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA's house was vandalised and over 1,000 arms and ammunition were reportedly looted by a mob from armouries of Manipur Rifles and IRB on Sunday while combined Central and state security forces gunned down more than 30 suspected Kuki militants in the state in last 48 hours.

There are also reports of mob looting all arms and ammunition from the armouries of 7 Manipur Rifles at Khabeisoi, 2nd Manipur Rifles at Deulahane and 3rd India Reserve Battalion at Thoubal.

As per security forces, fierce encounters are on between suspected Kuki militants and security personnel at the Kadangband and nearby Singda areas in the Imphal West district. Apart from attacking civilians in several foothills of Manipur, the militants also torched over 200 houses in three villages near Sugnu in the Kakching district late Saturday night.

On May 14-15, Home Minister Shah also held a series of meetings with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and representatives of Meitei and Kuki communities as well as other stakeholders to review the measures taken for restoring peace in the state.

Shah also held a meeting with the representatives of the Kuki Community from Manipur and a group of CSOs from Mizoram.

During the meetings, the Home Minister reviewed the measures taken for restoring peace in Manipur which has witnessed violent clashes between two ethnic communities. He then directed strict action against the perpetrators of violence and assured complete support and help of the central government for ensuring lasting peace.

Shah had then assured that the government would take all measures to protect various communities in the state, urged discussion with all factions and spread the message of peace and assured that justice would be done.

Shah had also stressed expediting process of relief and rehabilitation so as to minimise the suffering of the people

On May 5, the Home Minister also reviewed the situation in Manipur through a video conference meeting with the state Chief Minister and top officials in the state as well as the Centre.

On May 4, Shah had also held two meetings via video-conferencing and spoke with the CMs of Manipur and neighbouring states including that of Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam in view of the situation in Manipur.

Manipur faced violence 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 organised in protest against the demand for inclusion of the state's Meitei community in the ST category, following an April 19 Manipur High Court directive.

(with PTI and ANI inputs)