Guwahati/New Delhi
Amidst a worsening law and order scenario following the recent violence, the Union Home Ministry has decided to deploy an additional 50 companies of the Central Armed Police Force to violence-hit Manipur to handle the present “volatile” situation.
A team from the Home Ministry will visit the violence-affected areas shortly. A decision was taken in this regard in the meeting by Home Minister Amit Shah, who had to cancel his poll rallies in Maharashtra and stay put in Delhi to take stock of the situation in Manipur that threatens to go out of control yet again.
For its part, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation of three key cases linked to the recent violence. The first case was registered at Jiribam Police Station on November 8, 2024, regarding the murder of a woman in the Jiribam area by armed militants. The second case was registered at Borobekra Police Station on November 11, 2024, linked to the attack on the CRPF post (A-company, 20th Battalion) located at Jiribam’s Jakuradhor Karong by armed militants. The third case was registered at Borobekra Police Station on November 11, 2024, linked to the burning of houses and killing of civilians in the Borobekra area.
While as many as 10 Kuki militants were shot down by security forces after they came under attack on November 11, the retreating militants had abducted 6 Meiteis, whose bodies were later found resulting in Meitei mobs attacking the residences of Chief Minister Biren Singh and 3 MLAs.
One protester was killed and another sustained injuries as security forces opened fire in Jiribam district to disperse the crowd. A mob ransacked and set fire to furniture and other property taken from the local offices of the BJP and the Congress in the same area. The violence took place within 500 meters of the Jiribam police station.
The Manipur government on Monday declared that state-run educational institutions and colleges, including universities, in Imphal West and Imphal East districts to be closed until Tuesday. Curfew too has been extended by two days.
Political developments in the meantime saw the Conrad Sangma-led NPP withdrawing its support from the Manipur coalition government. “We strongly feel that the Manipur State Government under the leadership of Shri Biren Singh has completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy. Keeping the current situation in mind, the National People’s Party has decided to withdraw its support to the Biren Singh led Government in the State of Manipur, with immediate effect,” Meghalaya CM and NPP chief Conrad Sangma wrote to BJP president JP Nadda.
Another BJP ally in the NDA, Kuki People’s Alliance had quit on the same issue. The 7-member NPP’s exit will, however, not affect administration as the BJP with 32 seats holds an absolute majority in the State.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has called a meeting of NDA MLAs on Monday evening to discuss the situation and to take a further course of action. An influential Meitei civil society body has already issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the State government demanding decisive action against armed militant groups.
New Chief Justice
The Supreme Court collegium on Monday recommended the appointment of Justice D Krishnakumar, a judge of the Madras high court, as the next chief justice of the Manipur high court. Justice Krishnakumar is slated to assume the position following the retirement of the incumbent chief justice, Siddharth Mridul, on November 21, 2024.
