Manipur Violence: Amit Shah Speaks With CM Biren Singh To Take Stock Of Situation

Amid violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken with Manipur CM Biren Singh to take stock of the situation in the state.

Army and paramilitary forces are already deployed there to control the situation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Manipur CM N Biren Singh and took stock of the situation in the state where law and order were disrupted after tribal groups took out rallies in several districts. A few companies of RAF have been dispatched to the state, however, an adequate number of Army and paramilitary forces are already deployed there to control the situation, sources said as quoted by news agency ANI. Violence erupted in the areas of Churachandpur, Imphal and Kangpokpi. The Army and Assam Rifles were requisitioned on the intervening night of May 3 and 4.

Responding to the request of Civil Administration in Manipur, the Army or the Assam Rifles immediately deployed an adequate number of Columns for Area Domination in all affected areas of Manipur on the evening of May 3. Action to evacuate the maximum number of people to safer areas and restore law and order is underway, the Indian Army said. The columns of the Army and Assam Rifles along with Manipur police intervened promptly to control the situation. Violence was controlled by the morning, however, approximately 4,000 villagers were provided shelter in various Army/Assam Rifles camps and on state government premises at various locations.  Flag marches were also conducted to keep the situation under control. Shifting of villagers to safer areas is in progress.

On Wednesday, the Manipur government ordered the suspension of mobile internet services for five more days in the wake of fresh violence in the Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts. Violence broke out and tension escalated during a rally organized by the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM). The silent rally by ATSUM, protesting against the inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, all of a sudden turned ugly with protestors being severely injured.

According to a statement issued by P Doungel, the Director General of Police (DGP), Manipur,  "The situation is still tense and volatile in the hill districts of Bishnupur and Churachandpur. Some anti-social elements are using social media extensively for circulating images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public. Social media has become a handy tool for rumour-mongers and is being used to incite the general public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state.