Judicial Commission Under Rtd Judge To Probe Manipur Violence, CBI To Investigate Conspiracy Angle: Shah

Manipur Violence: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Centre will constitute a Judicial Commission headed by a retired judge of the High Court while a high-level CBI probe will look into 6 cases.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced that the Union Government will constitute a Judicial Commission to probe into the incidents of violence in Manipur. The committee will be headed by a retired judge of the High Court. The Governor of Manipur will also head a peace committee with members of Civil society, he said. Meanwhile, the CBI will investigate five particular cases of violence along with one overall case to look into the conspiracy angle.

Talking about violent incidents reported in Manipur in the last month, Amit Shah said: "I express my condolences to all families who have lost their loved ones in the violence. I have visited several places in Manipur in the last three days including Imphal, Moreh, and Churachandpur, and held meetings with officials to establish peace in the state. I have met CSOs of the Meitei and Kuki communities."

He stressed that several agencies are working in Manipur to investigate the violent incidents and informed that an inter-agency unified command is being set up to ensure better and impartial coordination between the investigating agencies. A high-level CBI probe will take place in incidents of violence, five cases are chosen and one more is registered to probe the conspiracy in general. "We will make sure that the investigation is fair," he said.

Announcing the Judicial committee, Shah said: "The Government has decided to set up a Judicial Commission under the chairmanship of a retired judge (of the level of the Chief Justice of High Court) to investigate all the aspects of violence, all the causes of violence and to investigate who is responsible for the violence. A peace committee under the chairmanship of the Governor will also be formed."

Manipur Government, Centre To Provide Ex Gratia To Kin Of Victims: Shah

The Home Minister stated that the Manipur Government will provide Rs 5 lakh compensation to the next of kin of deceased victims through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT). Central Government to also give Rs 5 lakh compensation to next of kin of deceased victims through DBT, he added.

According to the Home Minister, the Joint Secretary and Joint Director level officers of the Home Ministery and other ministries will be present in the violence-hit state to help people and take stock of the situation in the state. The Central government has provided 8 teams of medical experts including 20 doctors to Manipur to provide aid to victims of violence in the state. 5 teams have already reached here and 3 others are on the way, he informed.

Shah further mentioned that education officials will reach the state and we will have discussions to provide uninterrupted education facilities to the students. "Online education and examination will be held as per plan," he said.

He assured the people of Manipur that the investigations will be carried out without any bias and discrimination and the guilty will be punished.

The Home Minister urged the people of Manipur to not pay heed to fake news. "Strict actions will be taken against anyone violating the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. Those carrying weapons must surrender before the police. Combing operations will start tomorrow and if weapons are found with anyone, strict actions will be taken," he said.

Ethnic clashes broke out in the state nearly a month ago after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. After a relative lull for over a fortnight, the state witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and gunfights between militants and security forces on Sunday.