Home Minister Amit Shah has directed authorities to ensure that people can move freely on all roads in Manipur starting March 8. He has also instructed officials to take strict action against anyone who tries to block roads or cause disturbances.
This decision came after Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting in Delhi. The meeting focused on restoring peace in Manipur, which has been facing ethnic violence since May 2023. It was the first such meeting after President’s Rule was imposed in the state.
Manipur has witnessed severe violence for nearly two years, leading to the deaths of over 200 people. The conflict began due to tensions between the Meitei and tribal communities. Clashes, protests, and attacks have made life difficult for residents.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi on the security situation in Manipur. The meeting was attended by key officials, including the Governor of Manipur, Union Home Secretary, intelligence and security agencies, and… pic.twitter.com/SgNpmIFuIl
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In January, a Kuki group placed an economic blockade on National Highway-2 (NH-2), which connects Imphal and Dimapur through Kangpokpi district. This highway is a major supply route for Manipur. The blockade was later lifted, but it had already caused problems for people in the state.
The Home Ministry has also announced strict action against drug networks in Manipur. “To make Manipur drug-free, the entire network involved in drug trade should be dismantled,” said a statement from the ministry. The government has been making efforts to stop illegal drug activities in the state.
The meeting was attended by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, senior officials from the state government, the Army, and paramilitary forces. One of the key discussions was about retrieving illegal weapons.
On February 20, Governor Bhalla gave an ultimatum to people in possession of illegal or looted weapons, asking them to surrender within seven days. As a result, more than 300 weapons were surrendered, mainly in the valley districts. A Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol, alone surrendered around 246 firearms.
Since thousands of weapons were looted from police stations during the early days of violence, the government has been working to recover them. The deadline for surrendering illegal weapons has now been extended until 4 PM on March 6, following requests from people in both hill and valley areas.
President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13 after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. This means the state is now directly governed by the central government. The state assembly has been suspended, even though its term was supposed to continue until 2027.
The violence in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was held in the hill districts. This march was organized to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The demand caused anger among the tribal communities, leading to clashes between different groups. Since then, Manipur has remained tense, with frequent outbreaks of violence.
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The central government is making continuous efforts to bring peace to Manipur. By ensuring free movement on roads, retrieving weapons, and dismantling drug networks, authorities hope to bring stability to the state. The security forces are also working to prevent further violence and maintain law and order.
However, the situation remains delicate, and it will take time to restore complete normalcy in the region. The people of Manipur continue to hope for peace and safety in their state.
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