Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the restoration of normal vehicular movement in Manipur from March 8th. Strict action will be taken against those obstructing traffic. The meeting was attended by the Governor and security force officials.
Manipur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a crucial meeting in Manipur, his first since the imposition of President's Rule. The meeting reviewed the state's security situation. The government emphasized restoring normalcy and the surrender of looted illegal weapons. The meeting was attended by Manipur's Governor, Anjai Kumar Balla, and top officials from the Army and paramilitary forces.
Directive for Normal Vehicular Movement in Manipur from March 8th
Home Minister Amit Shah directed that unimpeded movement of people on all roads in Manipur must be ensured from March 8th. He explicitly stated that strict action would be taken against anyone obstructing traffic. This decision aims to restore normalcy in the state.
Review of Law and Order Situation in Manipur
Sources indicate that the Home Minister was briefed on the detailed security situation in the state. Emphasis was placed on restoring the pre-May 2023 normalcy and the surrender of illegal and looted weapons seized by various groups.
It is noteworthy that ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur in May 2023, resulting in over 250 deaths to date. The central government has decided to take stringent measures to improve the law and order situation in the state.
President's Rule Imposed in Manipur on February 13th
Manipur's assembly's term was until 2027, but Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned. Subsequently, President's Rule was imposed on February 13th, and the assembly was suspended.
Governor Offers Final Opportunity for Surrender of Illegal Weapons
On February 20th, Manipur's Governor, Anjai Kumar Balla, gave a final opportunity for the surrender of illegal and looted weapons. Over 300 weapons were surrendered within seven days of this order.
The Meitei community's Arambai Tengol surrendered 246 firearms. The Governor extended the deadline for surrendering illegal weapons to March 6th to allow more people to comply. This decision was taken considering the requests for more time from people in the hills and valleys.
Looting of Weapons During Ongoing Violence in Manipur
During the ongoing violence in Manipur for the past 22 months, people looted a significant number of weapons from the police. This has made maintaining law and order a major challenge. The government is now attempting to recover these weapons through stringent measures.
Anjai Kumar Balla Appointed Governor of Manipur
Former Union Home Secretary Anjai Kumar Balla was appointed Governor of Manipur on December 24th, 2023. He assumed office on January 3rd, 2024. After assuming office, he met with people from various sections of society to discuss ways to establish peace.
