Manipur violence: Govt forms 3 member probe commission as Amit Shah issues 'sincerest appeal'
1 min read 04 Jun 2023, 05:59 PM ISTThe Indian government has formed a three-member Commission of Inquiry to investigate recent violence in Manipur, led by former Chief Justice Ajai Lamba. Home Minister Amit Shah has also appealed for an end to blockades on the Imphal-Dimapur highway to allow essential supplies to reach the region.
PremiumThe Central government has formed a three-member Commission of Inquiry to probe the recent incidents of violence in Manipur. The team will be headed by the former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court - Ajai Lamba - and includes former IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and former IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar. The development came even as Home Minister Amit Shah issued a ‘sincere appeal’ to the people of the northeastern state.
“My sincerest appeal to the people of Manipur is to lift the blockades at the Imphal-Dimapur, NH-2 Highway, so that food, medicines, Petrol/Diesel, and other necessary items can reach the people. I also request that Civil Society Organisations do the needful in bringing consensus. Together only we can restore normalcy in this beautiful state," he tweeted.
The senior politician had visited Manipur last week, also announcing plans to form a a peace committee, and an inter-agency unified command for better coordination.
As per an official communique, the Commission will be probing the 'cause and spread of the violence and riots targeting members of different communities' that had taken place May 3 and thereafter as well as the sequence of events. They will submit their report to the Centre ‘not later than six months from the date of its first sitting’.
Ethnic violence first broke out after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts a the beginning of May to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The clashes had been preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
There have been sporaidic violence in the ensuing weeks with the death toll from the clashes now crossing 80.
(With inputs from agencies)