The meeting will include National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, among other senior officials
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to hold a crucial meeting on Monday to assess the security situation in Manipur, a state that has been grappling with ethnic violence since May last year. Shah, who cancelled his election rallies in Maharashtra on Sunday, is expected to outline strategies to manage the volatile conditions in the northeastern state, sources revealed.
The meeting will include National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, among other senior officials. Shah is likely to issue fresh directives to tackle the escalating crisis, which has seen protests and violence surge in recent days.
The unrest intensified after the recovery of bodies of women and children, sparking outrage among residents. The situation worsened on Saturday night when irate mobs set fire to the residences of three BJP legislators, including a senior minister, and a Congress MLA in the Imphal Valley. The attacks targeted the homes of PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam in Ningthoukhong, BJP MLA Y Radheshyam in Langmeidong Bazar, BJP MLA Paonam Brojen in Thoubal district, and Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar in Imphal East district.
None of the legislators or their family members were present during the attacks. Police reported that the mobs vandalised properties and partially burnt the houses. These incidents followed an earlier attack on Saturday when enraged crowds targeted the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs after the killing of three women and three children by militants in Jiribam district.
Manipur Police reported on November 11 that 10 suspected militants were killed during a fierce gunfight with security forces after they attacked the Borobekra police station and an adjacent CRPF camp in Jakuradhor, Jiribam. Hours later, six civilians, including women and children, were allegedly abducted by suspected militants in the same district.
In response to the rising tensions, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs reiterated its commitment to restoring order in Manipur. Armed miscreants from both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities have been involved in violence, resulting in the loss of lives and significant disruptions to public order. “Strict action would be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities,” the ministry stated.
On Thursday, the Centre reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas, including violence-hit Jiribam. This decision reflects the fragile security environment in the state, where over 220 people have been killed and thousands displaced since May 2023.
The ethnic strife began after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was held in the hill districts, protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. While Jiribam had largely been spared from the violence, the region saw unrest in June when a farmer’s mutilated body was found in a field.
The central government has directed all security forces in Manipur to take necessary steps to restore peace. Shah’s meeting on Monday is expected to result in crucial decisions to stabilise the state and address the ongoing crisis.