Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi to deliberate on the security situation in Manipur on Monday, at the backdrop of fresh violence which erupted in the state.
The meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs in North Block, Delhi was attended by union home secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, Army chief general Manoj Pande, Army chief (designate) Lt general Updendra Dwivedi, GoC Three Core HS Sahi, security advisor Kuldiep Singh, chief secretary Vineet Joshi, DGP Rajiv Singh and Assam Rifles DG Pradeep Chandan Nair, etc.
Chief minister N Biren Singh was not invited in the meeting, highly placed sources said.
The high level meeting led to speculations of the possibility of Presidents' Rule in the state besides widespread combing operations.
ALSO READ: Manipur Congress asks Centre, state to control situation in Jiribam
The meeting came a day after governor Anusuiya Uikey called on Amit Shah’s office and briefed about the prevailing situation in Manipur.
NDTV has reported that DGP Rajiv Singh made a presentation on the present situation.
The deployment of security forces in Jiribam was reviewed and deliberations were reportedly held on the rising cases of extortion in the state, while observing that looted arms were not returned to the state armouries.
The meeting also reportedly assessed the measures for peaceful dialogue and negotiation to hammer out a lasting solution to the long-drawn unrest in the state.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued directions to ensure that further incidents of violence are prevented in a timely manner in Manipur, as per reports.
He also announced that additional forces will be deployed in the state if necessary, while issuing a firm direction to take strict action as per law against the perpetrators of violence.
Reviewing the situation in relief camps, he directed Manipur chief secretary Vineet Joshi to ensure that the displaced people are given proper access to health and education facilities and means for rehabilitation.
ALSO READ: Manipur Crisis: 943 including women, children seek refuge in Jiribam camps
He further stressed that a coordinated approach is crucial in resolving the conflict in the state.
He also announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs will hold dialogue with both communities to bridge the ethnic divide at the earliest, as per reports.
This was the first such high-level meeting by the Central government after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Prime Minister Modi returned to power.
Over 900 individuals of Jiribam in Manipur have been forcibly displaced following the recent spate of violence in the district in which several houses and properties were set ablaze by armed miscreants.
The fresh violence was sparked following the beheading of Soibam Saratkumar by Kuki militants and the arson attack at several villages in Jiribam district on June 10.
ALSO READ: Manipur CM’s security convoy ambushed, two injured
Chief Minister N Biren Singh's advance security convoy was waylaid and ambushed by Kuki Militants near K Senam along NH-37 earlier on Monday, in which two personnel including a civilian driver was injured.
Heavy reinforcements of CRPF, BSF, ITBP and RAF have also started arriving in the state after election duty in various parts of the country amid the prevailing tense atmosphere in Manipur.
These newly arrived paramilitary forces have begun occupying various schools and colleges in the valley and fringe areas of the valley.
