Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a meeting to review security situation in Manipur, in New Delhi, on March 1, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
At a security review meeting last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed the Manipur administration to restore religious places that had been damaged or vandalised during the May 2023 ethnic violence in the State, a senior government official told The Hindu.
The move is aimed at providing a healing touch to both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, the official said. In August 2023, the Manipur government had informed the Supreme Court that “386 religious institutions of both the communities suffered damage” after ethnic violence erupted in the State on May 3, 2023.
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The top court directed, in September 2023, that the State government should immediately identify all religious buildings in the State — including Christian churches, Hindu temples, Sanamahi temples, mosques, and any building of any other religion — and protect these religious structures from encroachment and any further damage or destruction.
‘Clear roads, fence border’
Mr. Shah reviewed Manipur’s security scenario on March 1, for the first time since the State was placed under President’s Rule on February 13.
A statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that Mr. Shah directed officials to ensure the free movement of people on all roads across the State by March 8, and also work on early completion of the fencing on the Manipur-Myanmar border and dismantling of the drug network in the State.
Weapons recovery deadline
The official said that the Home Minister had emphasised that all looted weapons should be recovered by June 30. A large number of weapons are either with civilians or insurgent groups active in the State. The presence of weapons in the hands of the public has also aided large-scale extortion and abductions in the State.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla had on February 20 asked civilians to surrender looted weapons, later extending the deadline to March 6, failing which strict action would follow.
Around 6,000 police weapons and lakhs of rounds of ammunition were looted from armouries since violence broke out. Around 2,000 looted police weapons have either been surrendered or recovered so far.
Peace team
It was also decided in the meeting that around 400 community leaders and eminent personalities will be roped in to disseminate the message of peace, and highlight efforts to usher in development in the State.
On June 10, 2023, the MHA had constituted a 51-member peace committee chaired by former Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey. However, members of both the communities rejected the committee.
Around 250 people have been killed in the Manipur violence and scores are still missing. More than 62,000 people who were displaced from their homes are living in relief camps. The Minister instructed that the rehabilitation of these internally displaced persons should begin soon.
Published – March 04, 2025 10:15 pm IST