Compared to the gun attacks, arson and looting that marked the 48 hours leading up to Shah’s arrival in Imphal Monday evening, the day was bereft of violence, barring a lone instance of firing by suspected militants that left a man wounded 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.”
05:43
Manipur violence: Situation remains volatile, Amit Shah holds talks with communities
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.
Tribal forum seeks ‘total separation from Manipur’
Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different civil society organisations… They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur.”
01:52
Manipur: Ahead of Amit Shah’s visit fresh violence breaks out, 40 Kuki militants killed
Jeetendra Ningomba of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity said his organisation and representatives of Meira Paibis (women activists) requested Shah during their meeting in Imphal to take appropriate measures to protect the “territorial and administrative integrity of the state”, besides immediate abrogation of the Centre and the state government’s ceasefire with Kuki militant outfits accused of fuelling the violence.
The Meitei leaders said the home minister assured them that Manipur’s territorial integrity would not be compromised with. 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.
01:57
Manipur: Home Minister Amit Shah in Imphal, meets Women’s delegation
Shah later took a helicopter ride to Churachandpur, where he held three rounds of talks with various groups such as the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and the Kuki Students’ Organisation. He also met five Kuki MLAs from BJP.
ITLF secretary Muan Tombing said his group demanded “total separation from Manipur” and President’s rule for the time being, citing 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 tricolour-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”.