Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday chaired a meeting to review the security situation in Manipur and said the Centre was fully committed to restoring lasting peace in the strife-torn state.
Manipur is currently under the President's Rule after Chief Minister Biren Singh resigned in early February and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to reach a consensus on his successor.
At the meeting, Shah directed security forces to ensure the free movement of people on all routes in the state from March 8 and also ordered strict action against those who create obstructions.
According to an official statement, the home minister was given a detailed briefing on the overall law and order situation in the state which has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 2023. Over 250 people have lost their lives in the violence.
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Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Commander of the Army's Eastern Command were present at the meeting.
The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation since the President's Rule was imposed on February 13.
On February 20, Governor Bhalla gave a seven-day ultimatum to the youth in the state to surrender the illegal and looted arms. According to reports, more than 300 weapons were surrendered by the public, primarily in the valley districts, during this period.
On Friday, the governor extended the deadline till March 6 following demands by people from both hill and valley areas for additional time.
