New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired an emergency meeting with senior security establishment officials to review the deteriorating situation in Manipur. A more detailed review was scheduled for today. Shah, who was in Maharashtra to campaign for elections in the state later in the week, cut short his visit to return to the national capital for the meeting, party leaders said.
Shah will chair the meeting as the government prepares to tackle the latest flare-up in violence, which appear to be reprisal killings carried out by both Kuki and Meitei groups in the state. The Centre has also sent CRPF director general Anish Dayal Singh to Manipur. People aware of the matter said chiefs of security forces working in Manipur, senior officials from the home ministry and Intelligence Bureau will participate in Monday’s meeting.
The situation escalated on Saturday with locals targeting houses of MLAs and ministers – vehicles and parts of houses were set on fire, gunfights were reported at buffer zones between hills and valley areas, and protesters blocked roads in valley regions overnight. The troops are posted across Imphal valley including Sanjenthong, Khurai Lamlong Bridge, Thongju Bridge, Koirengei, Kangla Western Gate, Keishampat, Chungtham, Salam Mayai Leikai, Konthujam, Mayang Imphal, Hiyangthang, Nambol, Mantripukhri, Babupara, Wangjing, Thoubal and Lilong of Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal Districts.
