Will go to Manipur soon, stay there for 3 days: Amit Shah amid fresh violence in state

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said he will soon travel to Manipur and stay in the northeastern state for three days

• He said he would talk to the people of Manipur to bring peace in the violence-hit state

• This comes after fresh incidents of violence were reported in Manipur

   

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said he will soon travel to Manipur and stay in the northeastern state for three days. He said he would talk to the people of Manipur to bring peace in the violence-hit state. This comes after fresh incidents of violence were reported in Manipur.

"I myself will go to Manipur after a few days and stay there for three days and talk to the people of Manipur about bringing peace," said Amit Shah. Speaking about the violence in Manipur, Amit Shah said, "There have been clashes in Manipur after the court verdict. I would appeal to both the groups to maintain peace and justice will be done for all."

Violence broke out in several districts of Manipur earlier this month during the 'Tribal Solidarity March' called by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung area of Churachandpur district to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. . Thousands of agitators took part in the rally, during which clashes between tribals and non-tribals broke out.

Following the violence, a curfew was imposed in eight districts of Manipur and mobile internet services were suspended in the entire northeastern state for several days. The violence in Manipur was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. Meiteis account for about 53 percent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

On Wednesday, the house of Manipur PWD Minister Konthoujam Govindas in Bishnupur district was vandalised by a group of people claiming that the government in the strife-torn state is not doing enough to protect locals from militants belonging to another community. The minister and his family members, however, were not present at the house when the mob attacked the house in Ningthoukhong area and damaged a portion of a gate, windows, a few furniture and electronic gadgets.

This is the first time a minister's house was attacked during the ongoing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in the state that started three weeks ago and claimed more than 70 lives. Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to control the situation in the state.