Centre mobilises forces to restore normalcy in Manipur

The Central Government is making exhaustive efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the embattled northeastern state of Manipur, marked by a spike in violence, sources revealed on Friday. To maintain control over fringe areas and higher terrains, additional troops have been mobilised and ongoing situations are being closely monitored by senior officials.
Amidst the surging violence in Manipur, which saw nine youths killed in a single incident and the torching of Union minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh’s residence, the Union Home Ministry has dispatched Director General of CRPF, S L Thaosen to the state. Thaosen will be overseeing the situation and facilitating better coordination of central forces.
Currently, approximately 30,000 central security personnel are stationed in Manipur for law-and-order duties, in addition to state police forces. These forces comprise about eight battalions of central paramilitary forces, 80 columns of the Army, and 67 columns of the Assam Rifles.
The central government has pledged to meet demands from the state administration for additional forces, as violence stemming from ethnic tensions continues to rage.
The turbulence in Manipur began after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was held in the hill districts on May 3, opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then, the state has witnessed a

significant toll, with nearly 120 people losing their lives and over 3,000 injured in the resultant ethnic violence.
In response to the crisis, the central government has instituted several initiatives to facilitate peace and dialogue. On June 4, the Centre established a Commission of Inquiry, headed by former Gauhati High Court chief justice Ajai Lamba, to investigate the violence. Six days later, a peace committee headed by the governor was constituted, though it has faced resistance from various civil society groups. In addition to these measures, the Centre has also approved a relief package of Rs 101.75 crore for those displaced due to the violence.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state last month, spending four days meeting a range of people to help restore peace. However, the ongoing blockades of key roads and national highways by tribals and women-led vigilante groups have presented new challenges for the Assam Rifles and the Army.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has promised to maintain the unity and integrity of the state, asserting that his government will not undertake actions contrary to the state’s interests. Search and combing operations are currently underway to capture the culprits behind the recent surge in violent incidents.
The situation in Manipur remains precarious, and the central government’s steps towards restoring peace and facilitating dialogue among various ethnic groups is the key to ending the crisis. As the state grapples with ethnic tensions, the cost in human lives and property continues to rise.