Imphal, June 10 (The Street Press) – The central government formed a special peacekeeping force to restore peace in Manipur. Chief Minister N Biren Singh has also been placed in the Governor-led committee. All MPs and MLAs of the state are staying as members of the committee. The representatives of all the political parties of the state have been placed in the committee to take the views of all parties to restore permanent peace in this northeastern state.
According to Union Home Ministry sources, retired government officials, literary figures, artists, and representatives of various communities are being kept in the committee to seek permanent reconciliation between the conflicting communities.
According to news agency ANI, this committee will try to reach a consensus by discussing with various ethnic groups. Earlier, the CBI had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a DIG-rank police officer to investigate the Manipur violence.
This special investigation team will submit a report on the Manipur violence to the Central Investigation Agency. During his visit to Manipur in May, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the CBI would investigate the violence in the state.
Earlier CBI started an investigation based on 6 FIRs in different police stations of Manipur. Now the central government formed a peacekeeping committee to restore the confidence of the people there.
On May 3, unrest broke out in the northeastern state around the program of the Janjati students’ organization ‘All Tribal Students Union of Manipur’ (ATSUM). The Manipur High Court had directed the state government to consider the issue of granting Scheduled Caste status to the Meitei. Soon after this, Janjati organizations came out to oppose it. And from that incident, the conflict started there.
On May 6, the Modi government took the responsibility of maintaining law and order in BJP-ruled Manipur to prevent clashes between the indigenous Meitei community and some Scheduled Caste communities including Kuki and Zo.
Army and Assam Rifles were deployed to avoid unrest in the state. Former CRPF chief Kuldeep Singh has been given the responsibility of overseeing the overall security arrangements. Under him, ADGP (Intelligence) Ashutosh Singh was given the responsibility of the operational commander of the entire security system. But even after 1 month, the violence did not stop.
Around 100 people have died in the Manipur violence so far. The number of seriously injured is about 500. More than 25,000 people have been displaced due to violence!
