Union Home Minister Amit Shah (AMIT Shah) reviewed the security situation in Manipur in Delhi on Saturday, focusing on restoring the general situation in the state and surrendering illegal and looted weapons kept by several groups. This was the first such meeting after the implementation of President’s rule in Manipur. Ethnic violence has been going on in Manipur since the year 2023, in which more than 250 people have lost their lives.
Sources said, “The Home Minister reviewed the security situation in Manipur. Detailed information was given on the law and order situation in the state.” Sources said that the focus of the meeting was on creating a normal situation before May 2023 and handing back the illegal and looted weapons with all the groups. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, top officials of Manipur government, army and paramilitary forces attended the meeting.
Union Home Minister gave important instructions
Home Minister Amit Shah directed that from March 8, 2025, the free movement of the public should be ensured on all the routes of Manipur, strict action should be taken against those who created obstructions on the way. Strict action should be continued against all cases of forced collection.
Apart from this, he said that the work of fencing on both sides of the entry places identified for movement on the international border from Manipur should be completed soon. Along with this, the entire network involved in drug trade should be demolished to make Manipur drug addicts.
President’s rule in the state
President’s rule was implemented after N Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister on 13 February in Manipur. The term of the state assembly has been suspended, which is up to 2027. Security review was conducted by the Governor on 20 February to surrender to all those who have illegal and looted weapons. During the seven days time, more than 300 weapons were returned by the public mainly in the districts of the valley. These include 246 firearms surrendered by Maetai radical group Arambai Teengol.
Also read: Metai Group surrendered in Manipur, robbed goods, 246 weapons, shoes-hemets
Governor extended time limit for returning weapons
The Governor on Friday looted and extended the deadline for depositing illegal weapons till 4 pm on March 6, as people from both the hill and the valley areas demanded additional time. During the initial phase of ethnic violence, which started about 22 months ago, several thousand weapons were looted from the police at many places in Manipur.
Violence began after the ‘Tribal solidarity march’ was organized in the hill districts in protest against the demand for the status of Scheduled Tribes (ST) by the Maetai community in May 2023. Permanent peace in the state still remains a distant penny, even though the central government has made several efforts to bring the fighting communities to the conversation table.