Centre has taken charge of the security in the State of Manipur amid the communal clashes between the tribals and the majority Meitei that began yesterday after a tribal rally was held in the hill areas in the state in protest of the demand for inclusion of the Meiteis to the Scheduled Tribe.
Article 355 of the Constitution gives the charge to the Union ‘to protect States against external aggression and internal disturbance.’
Sources have informed that the Imphal-Churachandpur road has been secured by police and security forces.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday held 2 video-conference meetings with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, top state and central officials. Officials said that he also had telephonic conversations with Chief Ministers of Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam – Neiphiu Rio, Zoramthanga and Himanta Biswa Sarma.
They said that that the central government is closely monitoring the situation in Manipur and paramilitary forces are being mobilised from nearby states, adding that Shah is closely monitoring the situation and in constant touch with top functionaries of state and Centre.
The government has also appointed retired IPS officer and former CRPF chief Kuldiep Singh as its security advisor. The government said Singh has reached Imphal.
The Indian Police Service officer of the 1986 batch retired from service in September last year. He also headed the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in an additional capacity, as its director general.
Teams of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised force to handle riots, landed at Imphal on Thursday evening and according to defence spokesperson, 55 columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed across the State while some 14 columns on standby for deployment.
Urging people to maintain peace, CM N Biren Singh has said, “Precious lives have been lost, besides damage of properties, which is very unfortunate.”
However, the details of the deaths are not available.
(With inputs from PTI)
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