As the Centre struggles for solutions to restore peace in violence-hit Manipur, security forces deployed in the state are going all out to tackle militant attacks.
After Manipur CM N. Biren's meet with Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, reportedly, Shah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur situation on Monday. After his return from Egypt, Modi chaired a high-level ministers meet in Delhi.
Union ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman, Hardeep Singh Puri and Shah attended the meeting.
While talking to the reporters on Sunday Biren said that the “changing nature of violence from the exchange of fire in the peripheral areas to civil unrest in the valley districts has become a concern for Amit Shah ji.”
Singh said that he has submitted a detailed report of the measures taken up by the state government to restore peace in the state.
“The initial phase of the violence was highly political and sensitive but we cannot say what is happening now. The situation is very chaotic," said Singh.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Manipur Police, as many as 12 bunkers allegedly constructed by militants were destroyed by police and central security forces in various districts.
The statement also stated that the state police and central forces conducted a search operation in Tamenglong, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Kakching districts.
"During the search three 51 mm mortar shells, and three 84 mm mortar shells were found in the paddy field of Sahumphai village and one IED was found in a paddy field between Kangvai and S. Kotlian villages. The mortar shells and IED were demolished at the spot by the State Bomb Disposal Team," said the statement.
Also, 135 persons were arrested in connection with the curfew violations.
"A total of 1,100 arms, 13,702 ammunitions and 250 bombs of different kinds have been recovered so far," the statement added.
In the wake of the violence, the internet ban was extended till June 30.
Congress on Sunday lashed out again at PMs 'silence' over the situation in Manipur.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, at a national convention event, said Shah is “ineffective” and CM Biren Singh is “non-functional”.
"You cannot have unanimity but you can have consensus. That is how the Constitution of India was made.... So it is through consensus, only through listening to everybody, being sensitive that you can really restore trust (in Manipur). It is going to be a long process. It is not going to happen in weeks, it is going to take months, it may take years but we have to start the process," the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said at the convention.
Ramesh said that to move ahead, the chief minister should be replaced immediately.
"Every single minute Biren Singh continues as CM is a minute wasted towards efforts to bring peace and begin the reconciliation process in Manipur. His continuation as CM is untenable beyond doubt," Ramesh tweeted.
Ramesh also said that former Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh took 10 years to restore order and then the process of development was started.
However, Ibobi Singh had said that he was not allowed enough time to present his views and solutions in the recent all-party meet convened by the HM.
Singh said that it was unfortunate that he was not allowed more time."Party may be different but he is our prime minister. If the PM feels that Manipur is a part of this country, why did he not mention a single word? This is questionable. We are not saying this as Opposition," he said.
Since the violence broke out in the state on May 3, around 100 people have lost their lives. Over 3,000 were injured in the ethnic clashes and a large number of houses were burned.
(With PTI inputs)
