NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said the Centre would soon set up a committee headed by a retired High Court Chief Justice to probe the violence in Manipur that led to loss of lives and massive damage to properties.
Addressing the media in Imphal, Shah also said a peace committee would be constituted under Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey and it would comprise representatives of all political parties, civil society groups and both Kuki and Meitei communities. “Dialogue is the only way forward,” he said.
Shah warned of stern action against those violating the ‘Suspension of Operation’ pact and appealed to all concerned to surrender arms. He said he had held several rounds of meetings with all sections, including Kukis and Meiteis. “All have assured me that they will work to assuage hurt feelings and remove misunderstandings,” he said.
The minister said an inter-agency unified command would start working in the state from Thursday under Kuldeep Singh, retired Director General, CRPF, and oversee the coordination among the deployed agencies. “One joint secretary-level officer from the Home Ministry and five director-level officers from different departments will be posted here,” he said.
About the origin of the violence, he said ethnic clashes began after the High Court on April 29 “hurriedly” sought the views of the state government on granting the ST status to the Meitei community.