All is still not well in Manipur. Even as the Centre set up a Commission of inquiry to probe the violence that broke out in the state, fresh clashes was reported in Sugnu town of Kakching district. At least one person was injured in the fresh violence that broke out between the militants and the security forces on Sunday night.
Reportedly in the fresh violence the house of Congress MLA was partially burnt in Serou, Kakching district.
With the violence intensifying, the Commission of inquiry headed by former chief justice of Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba is set to probe. The commission will make inquiry of the causes and spread of the violence particularly between the two communities.
The other members of the commission include retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar.
So far, the violence had claimed 80 lives. It was on May 3 ethnic clashes broke out between Meitei and Kuki communities.
The commission will also look into the sequence of events leading to the riots. Also, whether any lapses occurred from the authorities/individuals will also be probed.
Complaints by individuals or associations will also be looked into by the commission.
The inquiry report will be submitted to the central government within six months from the date of its first sitting. Interim reports, if any, could be submitted before the said date as well.
The notification issued by the home ministry said that as a result of the violence, many residents of the state lost their lives and several others got seriously injured.
Their houses and properties were burnt down as a result of arson, it said.
The notification said the government of Manipur recommended on May 29 for the institution of a judicial inquiry commission to look into the causes and associated factors of the crisis and the unfortunate incidents happened on May 3 and afterwards under the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, PTI reported.
On the recommendation of the government of Manipur, the central government is of the opinion that it is necessary to appoint a commission of inquiry for the purpose of making an inquiry into a definite matter of public importance, namely, incidents of violence in Manipur, it said.
Now, therefore, “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952), the central government hereby appoint a Commission of Inquiry...," the notification read.
The headquarters of the commission will be set up in Imphal.
Since the ethnic clashes broke out on May 3, Manipur has been witnessing sporadic violence.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in the state for four days evaluating the situation. He had appealed to the people to surrender their weapons and also warned strict action against those who don't.
After HM's appeal, over 140 weapons were surrendered. Searches were conducted by the Army in different places to recover unlicensed arms and weapons.
(With PTI inputs)