Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced his visit to Manipur in response to the ongoing ethnic violence in the northeastern state. The violence erupted after a court directive to include the Meities, Manipur’s dominant community, on the Scheduled Tribes list. The clashes between Meities and predominantly tribal Kukis have resulted in 74 deaths, over 200 injuries, and the displacement of more than 40,000 people.
Shah called for peace and emphasized the need for dialogue among all stakeholders. He will spend three days in Manipur, urging both groups to build trust and ensure the restoration of peace. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai has already arrived in Manipur, and Shah is scheduled to arrive on Monday and stay until June 1 to assess the situation.
The region has been under the presence of the army since May 4, with thousands of security personnel patrolling the streets. Curfews have been imposed in various areas, and internet services have been suspended for over three weeks.
Letzamang Haokip, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from the Kuki community, expressed a willingness to welcome Shah but stated that they would not meet him in the presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Haokip and other tribal legislators have demanded a separate administration for the tribals.
The Chief Minister reported that a security operation over the past four days resulted in the killing of at least 40 Kuki militants. He clarified that the conflict is between the militants and security forces, not between communities. However, Kuki groups have refuted Singh’s statements, claiming that no Kuki militant groups were involved in the violence as they are abiding by the terms of the agreement.
The situation remains tense in Manipur, and Shah’s visit aims to facilitate peace talks and assess the measures required to restore stability in the region.
