Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the chief ministers of neighbouring states of Manipur, and held two meetings with top central and state functionaries through video conference to review the situation there following violence between tribals and the majority Meitei community. Clashes broke out in the state on Wednesday, and they intensified overnight with counter-attacks being mounted by rival communities in retaliation to earlier attacks, after Naga and Kuki tribals organized a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ to protest moves to give scheduled tribe status to the majority Meitei community. The state government on Thursday issued a ‘shoot at sight’ order in “extreme cases” to contain spiralling violence in the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages.
Clashes broke out in the state on Wednesday and they intensified overnight with counter-attacks being mounted by rival communities in retaliation to earlier attacks, after Naga and Kuki tribals organised a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ to protest moves to give scheduled tribe status to the majority Metei community.
The recent clashes in Manipur were triggered by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organized by Naga and Kuki tribals to protest the government’s move to give scheduled tribe status to the majority Metei community. The march led to clashes between the different communities, with counter-attacks being mounted in retaliation to earlier attacks. The situation has escalated quickly, leading to the deployment of paramilitary forces and a ‘shoot at sight’ order being issued in “extreme cases” to contain the violence. Over 9,000 people have been displaced from their villages due to the clashes.
