Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in Manipur to work up a peace formula following the ethnic clashes that rocked the state, will visit the Moreh and Kangpokpi areas of the state on Wednesday.
Shah has also scheduled a meeting with the delegations of various local groups in Moreh followed by a meeting with civil society organisations in Kangpokpi.
On Tuesday, the Home Minister held talks with rival Kuki and Meitei community leaders besides civil society groups and top security officers. A statement from the Home Ministry said that Shah had a (separate) meeting with prominent personalities in Imphal. "Had a fruitful discussion with the members of the different civil society organisations today in Imphal. They expressed their commitment to peace and assured that we would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur," he added.
He had also visited Kuki-dominated Churachandpur, the scene of some of the worst rioting in the recent ethnic conflict.
Later in the night, he also held an all-party meeting and a meeting with the top brass of central police forces, Manipur police and the army and ask them to ensure peace.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets prominent persons and a delegation of Civil Society Organisations, in Churachandpur | PTI
Shah who was accompanied by the IB chief and Home Secretary, held three rounds of talks with various groups such as Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and other civil society organisations. He also met five Kuki MLAs from the BJP.
The Home Minister requested the Kuki society to maintain peace and assured he would send in more security personnel if needed to ensure the safety of common people, he added.
ITLF secretary Muan Tombing told PTI, "He (Shah) told us that the CBI will be entrusted with carrying out a detailed probe to find out the reasons behind this prolonged clash. Besides, a judicial enquiry will also be announced."
Tombing said his group "demanded separation from Manipur" as also sought "President's Rule" in the state.
Meanwhile, a group of award-winning international and national sportspersons from Manipur, which included Anita Chanu and N Kunjrani Devi, on Tuesday tried to meet the Home Minister. The group members later held a press conference to state that they will return the prizes given to them by the government if the state's territorial integrity is compromised.
(With inputs from PTI)
