Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, May 4: Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, spoke with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday to assess the situation in the state after violence erupted during a tribal agitation.
In addition, units from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been sent to the north-eastern state’s violence-hit areas by the Centre, which is keeping an eye on the situation there.
The RAF is a specialised unit meant to deal with riot-like circumstances.
According to officials, the chief minister of Manipur briefed the home minister about the situation there and the efforts being done to restore peace.
Army and Assam Rifles soldiers have already been stationed there.
In addition to these two forces, there were enough paramilitary personnel in Manipur to be deployed in violent regions.
According to official sources, 15 more general duty companies have been asked to be in a state of readiness for deployment to the state, while five RAF companies have been airlifted to Imphal.
Manipur already has about 15 CRPF teams ready for deployment, sources said.
At the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the Churachandpur district’s Torbung area on Wednesday, violence broke out in some areas of Manipur in opposition to the non-tribal Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, who predominate in the Imphal Valley.
According to a senior police official, thousands of protesters attended the event, which saw conflicts between tribal and non-tribal participants.
The officer stated that police fired six rounds of teargas shells to calm the situation.
