Amit Shah chairs Manipur security meet, says Centre will talk to Meiteis, Kukis

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a key meeting with officials to review the security situation in ethnic violence-hit Manipur amidst reports of fresh incidents of trouble in the northeastern state.

During the meeting, the Home Minister received a detailed briefing on the prevailing situation from top security officials. After receiving the feedback on the current situation, Amit Shah said that the "Home Ministry will talk to both the groups, Meiteis and Kukis, so as to bridge the ethnic divide, at the earliest".

A statement released by the Home Ministry after the meeting also stated that the central government is fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens of Manipur.

The Home Minister directed officials to take strict legal action against those who indulge in violence.

Furthermore, the concerned officials were also asked to increase the deployment of central forces in Manipur, if needed, and to ensure strategic deployment of forces to restore peace and tranquillity in the northeastern state.

During the meeting, the Home Minister also reviewed the conditions in relief camps. He instructed authorities to ensure the proper availability of food, water, medicines, and other basic amenities for those affected.

In his directives to the Chief Secretary of Manipur, Amit Shah called for ensuring adequate health and education facilities for displaced people and their rehabilitation. The senior BJP leader stressed upon the need to extend immediate and effective measures to support these communities.

This is the first such meeting by the central government after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was re-elected to power earlier this month.

The meeting comes a day after Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey met with Shah and apprised him of the law and order situation in the rift-torn state. Notably, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was not present at today's meeting.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande, Army Chief-designate Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi and other senior officials were present at the hour-long meeting.

Ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023 after a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Since then, over 220 people belonging to both Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel have been killed in the continuing violence.