मणिपुर में एरिया डोमिनेशन ऑपरेशन शुरू: सेना-पुलिस मिलकर हिंसा में लूटे हथियार जब्त करेगी, कल उपद्रवियों ने 144 हथियार सरेंडर किए थे

Army and Assam Rifles along with Police and CRPF on Saturday launched Area Domination Operation in hill and valley region of Manipur. The operation was launched to recover weapons looted during the violence in the state. Violence broke out in the state on May 3. After this, about 2 thousand weapons of the security forces were looted.

On the other hand, after the appeal of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on June 2, miscreants surrendered 144 weapons and 11 magazines in Manipur. These include hi-tech rifles like SLR 29, Carbine, AK, INSAS Rifle, INSAS LMG, M16 Rifle and grenades. This was informed by Manipur Security Advisor Kuldeep Singh.

He told that 102 arms and ammunition have been found in Imphal East. 35 weapons have been surrendered in Tengnoupal district, out of which 18 have happened only in More. 2 weapons have been surrendered from Imphal West, 5 weapons from Thoubal. According to the police, the situation is normal in most of the districts.

Home Minister appealed to surrender arms
Even after a month, when the violence in the state did not stop, Home Minister Amit Shah reached Manipur on May 29 on a four-day visit. On Thursday, Shah told people in Manipur not to pay heed to rumours. Those possessing weapons will have to surrender before the police.

Shah said that the search operation will start from June 2. If anyone is found with weapons, strict action will be taken. Only after 24 hours, such a large number of miscreants surrendered.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday visited the Meitei Relief Camp in Manipur’s Imphal.

Amit Shah stayed in Manipur for 4 days
Amidst the ongoing violence since May 3, Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state for the first time. He stayed here from 29th May to 1st June i.e. for 4 days. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka were also present with him. Shah took many decisions during the 4-day tour. Among these, the biggest decision was to remove the DGP of the state.

Read in five points what happened during Shah’s 4-day visit.

1. DGP removed, arms holders will have to surrender
State DGP P. Dongal was removed before Amit Shah returned to Delhi on the evening of June 1. Rajeev Singh was given the command of the state police in his place. Shah held a press conference on the same day and appealed to the people to shun violence and maintain peace in the state.

Shah told the people of Manipur not to pay heed to rumours. Those possessing weapons will have to surrender before the police. The search operation will start from June 2. If anyone is found with weapons, strict action will be taken. Shah further said that a peace committee would be formed under the chairmanship of the Governor of Manipur.

Amit Shah has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the violence and a job to a family member.

2. Announcement to conduct an inquiry into the violence by a retired judge of the High Court
Shah announced the formation of a committee to investigate the violence by a retired judge of the High Court and the investigation of six cases related to the violence by the CBI. Shah said- Due to a hasty decision of the Manipur High Court, violence has taken place here. In fact, on April 29, the High Court had issued orders to consider the inclusion of Meitei community in ST. This was followed by demonstrations on 3 May and violence ensued.

3. Visited relief camps, met people from Kuki and Meitei communities
On 31 May, Shah visited a relief camp in Imphal. People of Meitei community are living here. He told the people that peace would soon be restored in Manipur. Soon the return of people to their homes will be ensured. Shah also held a meeting with organizations of the Kuki community. He had told the officials that peace in Manipur was the top priority. Steps should be taken at the earliest to restore peace.

Amit Shah reached Moreh town on the Myanmar border on Wednesday and inquired about the situation from the security forces.

4. Announcement of 10 lakh more special package to those killed in violence
On Tuesday morning, 30 May, Amit Shah held separate meetings with social organisations, political parties and intellectuals. Shah said, 5 lakh will be given by the Manipur government and 5 lakh by the central government to those killed in the violence. At the same time, tomorrow the Ministry of Home Affairs will release a relief package for those injured in the violence and those whose property has been damaged. He also directed to improve the supply of essential things like ration and oil in the state.

98 people lost their lives due to violence
Violence started in Manipur on 3 May. Violent clashes broke out in Serau and Sugnu areas adjoining capital Imphal on Sunday. In this, 5 people including 1 policeman were killed, while 12 were injured. So far 98 people have lost their lives due to violence in the state, while 310 people have been injured.

Amit Shah held meetings with social organisations, political parties and intellectuals in Churachandpur on 30th May, the second day of Manipur tour.

Know in 4 points, the whole controversy…

1. Meitei community accounts for half the population in Manipur.
The Meitei community forms more than half of Manipur’s population of about 3.8 million. The Imphal Valley, which covers about 10% of Manipur’s area, is dominated by the Meitei community. Recently, the Manipur High Court has issued orders to the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST).

2. Why the Meitei community is asking for reservation
The people of the Meitei community argue that they had the status of a tribe in the princely state before their merger with the Indian Union in 1949. In the last 70 years, the Meitei population has decreased from 62 percent to around 50 percent. The Meitei community is demanding reservation for its cultural identity.

3. Naga-Kuki tribe against reservation
The Naga and Kuki tribes of Manipur are opposed to giving reservation to the Meitei community. The Nagas occupy 90% of the state’s area and the Kukis form 34% of the state’s population. They say that 40 of the state’s 60 assembly seats are already in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley. Politically, the Meitei community is already dominant in Manipur.

The Naga and Kuki tribes fear that reservation for Meitei in the ST category will lead to division of their rights. As per the existing law, the Meitei community is not allowed to settle in the hilly areas of the state.

4. Reservation issue due to recent violence
The recent violence in Manipur can be attributed to the Meitei reservation. In August last year, Chief Minister Biren Singh’s government had ordered the eviction of the Naga and Kuki tribes living in the forest areas of Churachandpur, terming them as infiltrators. Naga-Kuki were getting angry with this. The Meiteis are Hindus, while most of the Nagas and Kukis of the ST category follow Christianity.