Amit Shah, the union home minister, travelled to Manipur on Tuesday for nine peace sessions in two cities 60 kilomtres apart, with the majority Meitei in Imphal and the Kuki tribe in Churachandpur, in an effort to bring together ethnic groups torn apart by 26 days of brutal conflict.
In comparison to the gun attacks, burning, and looting that defined the 48 hours preceding up to Shah’s arrival in Imphal Monday evening, the day was devoid of violence, save for a single instance of firing by suspected militants that injured a civilian at Pukhao in Imphal East district. After an all-party meeting in Imphal and a security review, Shah tweeted, “Peace and prosperity of Manipur is our top priority; instructed officials to strictly deal with any activities disturbing the peace.”
Amit Shah meets with communities while the situation is still chaotic.
Shah said the overwhelming sentiment during his talks with community leaders, prominent personalities, intellectuals, retired Army officers, and civil servants was to adhere to his roadmap to peace.
The tribal forum wants to “totally separate from Manipur.” I had a fruitful conversation with people from various civil society organisations… They affirmed their commitment to peace and gave their word that we would all work together to help Manipur get back to normal.
More violence breaks out before Amit Shah’s visit, 40 Kuki militants are murdered
According to Jeetendra Ningomba of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, during their meeting with Shah in Imphal, his group and representatives of Meira Paibis (women activists) also demanded that Shah immediately revoke the ceasefire between the state government and Kuki militant groups accused of inciting the violence and the federal government.
The Meitei leaders said the home minister assured them that Manipur’s territorial integrity would not be compromised. He did not discuss the demand by 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs of the BJP-led coalition for a separate administration for the community, they said.
Home Minister Amit Shah in Imphal, meets Women’s delegation
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and the Kuki Students’ Organization were two of the organisations with which Shah held three rounds of talks after taking a helicopter journey to Churachandpur. He also spoke with five BJP MLAs from Kuki.
ITLF secretary Muan Tombing said his group demanded “total separation from Manipur” and President’s rule for the time being, citing the collapse of law and order. “Shah requested Kuki society to maintain peace. He promised more security for our people and a CBI probe into the clashes, besides a judicial inquiry, within the next 15 days.”
Shah received a rousing welcome in Churachandpur, with hundreds of tricolor-waving Kuki men and women lining the road from the helipad to the Assam Rifles camp. Some carried placards saying “Our solutions are with you” and “We are tribals, you can’t stop us”.
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