Tezpur, (Assam): The Union Home Ministry has appointed former DIG of the National Investigation Agency and the Central Reserve Police Force Kuldeep Singh as an advisor to Chief Minister of violence-hit Manipur in view of the deteriorating situation in the state, sources said on Friday. A three-time BJP MLA injured in Thursday's attack in capital Imphal remains critical.
Reliable sources said that the Home Ministry had issued an order with regard to the appointment of Singh as advisor to Manipur CM Biren Singh in a bid to bring the law and order situation under control. Singh's appointment comes after the Union Government on Thursday night imposed Section 355 in Manipur following large scale violence and arson between the tribal and non-tribal communities.
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The violence in the north eastern state broke out on May 3 during the 'Tribal Solidarity March' by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the Torbung area of Churachandpur district to protest the demand of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the majority Meiteis. Following the violence and arson, the Manipur government suspended Internet in the entire state for five days even as night curfew has also been imposed to prevent any untoward incident.
Manipur governor on Thursday issued shoot at sight orders in extreme cases. Guwahati based defence spokesperson Lt.Col.Mahendra Rawat said that the situation has been brought under control. The Army has been conducting flag marches in the state since Thursday even as the IAF has deployed C-17 Globemaster & AN 32 aircraft from two airports in Assam to bring the situation under control.
On Thursday, three-time BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte from Thanlan in Manipur's Ferzaul district was attacked by protesters in Imphal leaving him critically injured. The attack took place when Valte was returning from a meeting with CM N Biren Singh at the state secretariat. Valte is currently in critical condition and is being treated at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal.
On Friday, the protests spilled over to Assam with demonstrations reported from Manipuri Basti in Guwahati. There are chances that the protests may be further spill over to Nagaland also as many Churches have been torched by protesters in Manipur.
