In an unprecedented development, the Manipur government on Tuesday deployed a massive number of security personnel in and around the historic Kangla Fort ahead of the proposed meeting of MLAs called by Arambai Tenggol on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the full rehearsal of the 75th Republic Day parade scheduled on Wednesday morning had been postponed to Thursday.
The development came following a proposed public meeting of all Meitei legislators of the Manipur Legislative Assembly called by the Arambai Tenggol’ at Kangla Uttra, to deliberate on the ongoing violence that has raged in the state since May, 2023.
The Arambai Tenggol had invited the legislators to attend the meeting, warning that anyone who stayed away from the meeting would be considered an enemy of the state. The meeting would deliberate on the means to urgently resolve the current crisis, as per sources.
Taking serious note of the invitation, a Cabinet meeting was held with Chief Minister N Biren in the chair on Saturday.
Meanwhile, details of the security arrangement reportedly made by the Superintendent of Police, Imphal West district on the deployment of police personnel and security forces “to deny and stop the entry of armed Arambai Tenggol members at Kangla” surfaced on social media.
As per the security arrangements, police and security forces started converging and taking positions in front of all the four gates of Kangla.
It may be mentioned that as many as 26 Meiteis have been killed and over a dozen sustained serious injuries after suspected armed Kuki militants attacked over the last 45 days.
Earlier on Monday, a special team of the Union Home Ministry led by Advisor AK Mishra held a meeting with the representatives of Arambai Tenggol at the residence of Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba who is also the Maharaja of Manipur.
Mishra was accompanied by Mandeep Singh Tuli (Joint Director SIB, New Delhi) and Rajesh Kumble (Joint Director SIB Imphal).
According to sources, the meeting between MHA officials and leaders of Arambai Tenggol resumed again on Tuesday. However, details of the meeting is yet to be divulged.
On the Tuesday meet, Arambai Tenggol is understood to have demands of making 1951 as base year for NRC, abrogation of SoO agreement with Kuki militants, deporting of all Myanmarese refugees to Mizoram, border fencing, removal of Assam Rifles and their replacement with other Central forces, and removal of Kukis from the ST list.
Meanwhile, no notifications on curfew relaxations in respect of the districts of Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur for Wednesday was issued till the filing of this report.
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