Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Review Security Situation in Manipur Amid Ongoing Ethnic Violence:

According to officials, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will review the security condition in Manipur on Saturday, marking the first such review meeting after the meeting of the President's rule in the north-eastern state.

Since May 2023 ethnic violence has touched Manipur and an estimated 250 individuals have been reported dead since then.

"The home minister will review the security situation in Manipur on Saturday. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, top officials of the Manipur government, Army, paramilitary forces will attend the meeting," the officials said.

On February 13, after CM N Biren Singh stepped down from his position, President’s rule was enforced in Manipur. The assembly of the state, which is supposed to function till the year 2027, has been rendered inactive.

The meeting for security review will be conducted after the ultimatum from the governor on February 20, directing illegal weapon holders to surrender, and destroying all remaining weapons of such nature.

During these seven days, especially in the valley regions over 300 weapons were said to have surrendered. This amount includes the 236 guns which members of the Meitei extremist faction Arambai Tenggol have surrendered.

Due to requests received from several people residing around the hill and the valley areas, the date for the submission of looted as well illegal arms has been extended by the governor to 4 pm on March 6. This was announced on Friday.

Since the 3rd of January when he assumed office as the governor of Manipur, Bhalla has been interacting with just about all sections of the society to understand how to restore normalcy in this part of the northeastern state of India.

As per the information available, Bhalla has also chaired some meetings in Manipur in which law and order situation of the state was a topic of discussion and the required instructions to the security personnel were passed on.

Shah, a former union home secretary, who had directly worked with him from 2019 until August 2024, was specially chosen by the union home minister to restore peace in the troubled region, Shah having worked with him knows very well what Shah expects from him.

In May 2023, violence broke out after a So-called “Tribal Solidarity March” was organized in the hill districts which was in opposition to the Meitee community’s incessant demand for ST status.

Despite all efforts made by the Central government peace continues to be a mirage in this northeastern state and the warring communities continue to find reasons to erupt in violence.