Amit Shah to embark on his 3-day visit to violence-hit Manipur today

“Union Home Minister Amit Shah would stay for three days and would work to end the ethnic crisis and deliver justice to all the people. We will talk with people at different places and listen to their views and opinions,” Rai said.

He stated that the recent unrest has only impeded development and there was calm and peace for the last nine years with no blockade and few bandhs, according to a report published by the news agency PTI. 

The minister assured that all problems and issues would be solved in a peaceful manner and people should have faith in the government and shun all forms of violence.

Shah on Thursday appealed to Manipur people to maintain peace and promised that justice will be ensured to all sections of society.

While laying the foundation stone of the tenth campus of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) at Changsari in Assam’s Kamrup district, the Home Minister said he will travel to Manipur to help resolve disputes.

“I will go to Manipur soon and stay there for three days but before that, both groups should remove mistrust and suspicion among themselves and ensure that peace is restored in the state,” Shah said as quoted by PTI. 

Clashes broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The violence in Manipur was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.

Meiteis account for about 53% of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute another 40% of the population and reside in the hill districts.

The ethnic clashes claimed over 70 lives and some 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel had to be deployed to restore normalcy in the northeastern state.

(With PTI inputs)

Updated: 29 May 2023, 06:41 AM IST