Manipur violence: Retired HC judge to monitor probe by special CBI team, says Amit Shah

The Centre on Thursday announced a slew of measures to check and contain the ethnic clashes which erupted in Manipur, including a judicial probe into the conflict that has so far claimed scores of lives.

At a press briefing in Imphal, home minister Amit Shah said the central government has constituted a committee headed by a retired high court judge to monitor a special CBI team’s investigation into incidents of violence in the northeastern state.

“Several agencies are working in Manipur to investigate violent incidents. High-level CBI probe in 6 incidents of violence that hint at a conspiracy. We will make sure that the investigation is fair,” said Shah.

Dialogue only solution to ongoing crisis in Manipur, he asserted.

A relief and rehabilitation has been prepared for those affected by the conflict, with both the Centre and the state chipping in Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of those who lost their lives in the violence, said Shah. The Governor of Manipur will head a peace committee with members of civil society, he added.

“Central government has provided 8 teams of medical experts including 20 doctors to Manipur to provide aid to victims of violence in the state. 5 teams have already reached here and 3 others are on the way,” he detailed.

Reassuring people stranded in dire situations, Shah said work is ongoing at a war footing to construct a temporary platform at Khongsang railway station so that it can be made operational in a week’s time.

Home Minister Amit Shah is on a four-day visit to violence-hit Manipur to broker peace between warring communities. During his tour of the state, he chaired meetings with security forces and government officials and held discussions with various stakeholders.

“I have visited several places in Manipur in the last three days including Imphal, Moreh, and Churachandpur and held meetings with officials to establish peace in the state. I have met CSOs of Meitei and Kuki communities,” he said.

Last month, violence broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

After a relative lull for over a fortnight, the state witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes, and gunfight between militants and security forces on Sunday.

So far, over 80 people have been killed in the violence, according to officials.