Union Home Minister in Manipur
Imphal: Expressing “deep” condolences to the families of those killed in Manipur violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on the last day of his four-day visit to Manipur today, announced that a judicial commission will be set up under the chairmanship of a retired Chief Justice of the High Court to investigate the Manipur violence.
He further said that 6 cases including 5 identified cases from all registered cases and one case of general conspiracy will be investigated by the special team of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The cause of the violence will be investigated without any bias and discrimination and strict action will be taken to punish the guilty to prevent such incidents.
Addressing a press conference here, Shah also announced that a peace committee would also be constituted under the chairmanship of the Governor of Manipur, in which representatives of all sections would be included. He said that under the relief and rehabilitation package by the Government of India and the Government of Manipur, an amount of Rs 10 lakh will be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the violence. The State government and the Centre, each will provide Rs 5 Lakh which will be given through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in their bank accounts. He said that for better and non-partisan coordination among all agencies which are working to maintain security in Manipur, an Inter-Agency Unified Command would be set up under the chairmanship of Security Advisor, Kuldiep Singh.
The Union Home Minister said that to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to Manipur, the Government of India has sent 30,000 Metric Tonnes of rice over and above the prescribed quota. Apart from this, arrangements have also been made for the supply of gas cylinders, petrol and vegetables. He said that the supply of essential commodities to Manipur from the rest of the country would also be ensured by setting up a temporary platform at Khongsang railway station. He added that a temporary helicopter facility is being started from Churachandpur, Moreh and Kangpokpi, which will provide transport facilities to the airport and remote places with charges of Rs 2000 per person only. He said that the rest of the cost of this service would be provided by the Union and the State Government. He said that out of 8 medical teams formed by the Government of India, 3 teams have reached Manipur and 5 teams will reach soon. These teams will provide health facilities in Moreh, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi areas.
Shah said that to ensure that the competitive examinations and education system continue without any interruptions for the students of Manipur, the officials of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, along with the officials of the Manipur Education Department, were preparing a concrete plan to arrange online education, examinations and distance education, which will be ready within 2 days.
For the prevalent situation in Manipur, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), meanwhile, today decided to offer alternate centres to the candidates of the Imphal (Manipur) Centre of the Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer and Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner Examination, 2023, which is to be held tomorrow – Aizawl (Mizoram), Kohima (Nagaland), Shillong (Meghalaya), Dispur (Assam), Jorhat (Assam), Kolkata (West Bengal), and Delhi.
The Centre change option will be available to the candidates of Imphal Centre through the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) facility. A message in this regard will be sent to each candidate on his/her registered mobile number with the Commission. The candidates must use their said registered Mobile Number to avail of this facility through IVRS, the UPSC stated. It informed that alternatively, a candidate may also contact the UPSC on the following telephone numbers 23070641, 23381073, 23384508 & 23387876 from 12:00 noon of June 2, 2023, till 05:00 p.m. of June 12, 2023. These telephone numbers will be in operation from 12:00 noon of June 2, 2023, to 5:00 pm of June 12, 2023. The candidates can call between 9.30 AM to 6.00 PM during the period. Moreover, the option of a change of Centres for such candidates will also be available on the Website of the UPSC from 12:00 noon of June 2, 2023, to 5:00 pm of June 12, 2023, on a round-the-clock basis. On receipt of Centre change options from the willing candidates through any of the above modes, they will be allocated to the venues of their chosen Centres and accordingly, their e-Admit Cards will be released. A message confirming the change of Centres shall be sent to each such candidate on his/her registered mobile number. The e-Admit Cards will be available for downloading from the UPSC’s website.
Shah, meanwhile, said that necessary arrangements were being made to facilitate appearing before the Manipur High Court from Churachandpur, Moreh and Kangpokpithrough virtual medium. To ensure the smooth functioning of all the arrangements in Manipur, a Joint Secretary level officer of the Union Home Ministry and five Director level officers of different ministries will be present in the state, he announced.
He said that the trial work on fencing of the 10 km border along the Myanmar and Manipur border has been completed by the Government of India, while the tendering process for the 80 km fencing work is also completed and the survey for fencing on the remaining border area is underway. He said that the biometric and eye impressions of people coming from neighbouring countries are also being taken so that no one can incite violence in the region.
The Union Home Minister said that any kind of violation of the Suspension of Operation Agreement will be dealt with strictly and will be treated as a breach of the Agreement. He added that all the terms of the agreement should be strictly followed by the concerned parties. He asked the people to surrender their weapons to the police as strict action will be taken against those found possessing weapons during the combing operation by the police.
Shah said that violence between the two groups (Meiti and Kuki) started in Manipur on April 29, 2023, after a decision given by the court. He pointed out that for the last 6 years, Manipur was free from bandh, blockade, curfew and violence and achieved “unprecedented progress in all parameters of development” in the state.
– global bihari bureau
