Manipur Governor Assesses State's Law and Order
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Synopsis
On March 4, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla evaluated the law and order situation in Manipur following a review by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting emphasized the need for vigilance and swift action to ensure peace in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Bhalla holds a security meeting in Manipur.
- Vigilance from military and police forces is crucial.
- Union Home Minister's commitment to restoring peace.
- Free movement is to be ensured from March 8.
- Weapons surrender deadline extended to March 6.
Imphal, March 4 (NationPress) Just four days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah evaluated the overall security framework in Manipur, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla convened a meeting on Tuesday to assess the current law and order conditions in the troubled state.
A senior official from the Raj Bhavan stated that the Governor presided over a security conference to examine the law and order situation.
This meeting served as a follow-up to the discussions held in New Delhi on March 1, chaired by the Union Home Minister. The Governor instructed officials from the Army, para-military forces, Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), and the state police to maintain high vigilance and respond swiftly to any emerging situations.
Notable attendees included Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, Security Advisor to the State Government Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Manipur Police Rajiv Singh, Home Commissioner N. Ashok Kumar, General Officer Commanding 3-Corps Lt. Gen. Abhijit S Pendharkar, GOC, 57 Mountain Division Maj. Gen. S.S. Kartikeya, Inspector General, Assam Rifles (South) Maj. Gen. Ravroop Singh, top officials of the Manipur Police, Inspector General, CRPF Rajendra Narayan Das, and Inspector General, BSF S.K. Mishra, who attended the meeting at the Raj Bhavan.
In a bid to restore peace and normalcy, the Union Home Minister had already reviewed the security situation in Manipur on March 1.
During that meeting, he emphasized that the Centre, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is fully committed to achieving lasting peace in Manipur and is offering all necessary support.
The Home Minister directed that unrestricted movement on all roads in Manipur should be ensured starting March 8 and mandated strict actions against anyone attempting to obstruct this.
Furthermore, the Home Minister emphasized the urgency of completing the fencing work on both sides of the designated entry points along Manipur's border with Myanmar and insisted that the entire network involved in the drug trade be dismantled to make Manipur drug-free.
The meeting in Delhi marked the first high-level review since the implementation of President's Rule in the northeastern state, which has been affected by ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 3, 2023. President's Rule was enacted on February 13, shortly after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned.
Both the Manipur Governor and senior officials from the state government, Home Ministry, Intelligence Bureau, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, the Army's Eastern Command chief, along with the Directors General of the BSF, CRPF, and Assam Rifles, Security Advisor to the Manipur government, as well as the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police from Manipur, participated in the Delhi meeting.
Senior police officials reported that over 750 looted and illegally held weapons, including many sophisticated arms and substantial ammunition, have been recovered since the Governor's initial appeal on February 20.
Governor Bhalla reiterated his appeal on February 28, stating: "The request made on February 20 has received a positive response. Following the expiration of the seven-day deadline for voluntary surrender of such arms, there has been a call from both valley and hill areas to extend the surrender period. I have taken this request into account and decided to extend the deadline until 4 p.m. on March 6 for the voluntary surrender of these arms."
He added, "During this time, no punitive measures will be taken against individuals who voluntarily surrender weapons. However, anyone discovered with illegal or looted arms after the deadline will face legal consequences as per the law."
