Manipur unrest: CM Biren Singh calls NDA meeting; NIA takes over three cases from state police

Amid the worsening security situation in Manipur, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh will be chairing a meeting with ministers and MLAs of the ruling NDA at 6 pm on Monday. 

The meeting will review the developing law and order situation in the state. 

ALSO READ | Manipur violence: Mob vandalises BJP, Congress offices after protester dies in clash with security forces

The meeting comes a day after the National People's Party (NPP) withdrew support to the BJP-led government. The NPP has seven MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly. NPP pointed out that the N. Biren Singh government completely failed to "resolve the crisis and restore normalcy" in the state. 

ALSO READ | NPP withdraws support to BJP-led govt in violence-hit Manipur

Meanwhile, in a letter to the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Ningthoujam Geoffrey, secretary to the CM, requested the influential body in Imphal Valley to refrain from taking up any violent form of agitation. 

The request came after COCOMI members began their campaign of locking government office buildings in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district on Monday. 

On Monday, Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Manipur. After the meeting, the central government decided to deploy an additional 50 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, totalling over 5,000 personnel, to Manipur due to the challenging situation in the state. 

NIA takes over three cases

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over three Manipur violent cases. The cases include the murder of a woman in the Jiribam area by fully armed militants registered at the Jiribam Police Station and the burning of houses and the killing of a civilian at the Borobekra area registered at Borobekra Police Station. 

Meanwhile, one person was killed in the clash between the security forces and protesters on Sunday night. According to the eyewitnesses, the person was killed in the firing by the security forces. 

Agitators vandalised properties at Babupara in Jiribam police station demanding justice after three women and children were found dead. 

According to the police, bodies of five missing persons have been found so far.

Congress demands Amit Shah's resignation

Amid a rise in violence, the Congress on Monday demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state before the Parliament session on November 25. 

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh urged PM Modi to meet an all-party delegation from Manipur. 

While addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Ramesh also demanded the resignation of Shah and Manipur CM. 

"From May 3, 2023, Manipur is burning and Prime Minister Modi visits various countries of the world, gives sermons, but could not find time to visit Manipur," he said. 

In the wake of the curfew in the violence-hit areas, many shops, business establishments and pharmacies remained closed in Imphal Valley. Internet services were suspended after protesters vandalised and set ablaze items belonging to ministers and legislators. 

A fresh wave of protests erupted in Manipur after six people went missing from a camp for displaced persons in Jiribam on Monday last week.