New Delhi: The Manipur government on Thursday recommended six cases to the Centre for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The six cases include a common conspiracy case to investigate whether the ethnic violence was pre-planned, the Hindu reported.
“The six cases were selected by the Manipur government and the CBI has been asked to probe the cases,” a senior government official told the Hindu. The official added that the Union home ministry had written to the Department of Personnel Training (DoPT) seeking a CBI probe. “The DoPT has forwarded the request to CBI and the agency will be notifying the cases soon,” the official said.
As many as 3,734 First Information Reports (FIR) were registered in Manipur by June 3, the Hindu report said. Imphal West district saw the largest number of cases at 1,257, followed by Kangpokpi (932), and Bishnupur (844), according to information provided by the chief minister’s office, the Hindu reported.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the Naga legislators told the Hindu, “In the meeting with the home minister, several measures for peace and normalcy were discussed. Naga MLAs were told to act as a bridge between the Kuki and Meiteis and help bring peace to the State.”
The Manipur Assembly has 60 seats, with 40 Meitei MLAs, 10 Kuki MLAs and 10 Naga MLAs. The Kuki MLAs — including those from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — demanded a separate administration last month but the Nagas have distanced themselves from their demand, the report said.
Kuldiep Singh, security adviser to the Manipur government, said on Thursday that the situation in Manipur had remained peaceful and under control, with no incidence of violence reported in the last 48 hours.
“To provide relief to the displaced people in Manipur, the home ministry has approved a ₹101.75 crore relief package,” Singh said. During his visit to Manipur from May 29 to June 1, the home minister had directed the state government to send a request to the home ministry for a relief package for the displaced people. Over 35,000 people have been displaced in the violence.
About the recovery of more than 4,000 stolen weapons, Singh said that 28 more arms had been recovered on Wednesday bringing the total of recovered weapons to 896 arms, 11,763 ammunition and 200 bombs of different kinds.
The Manipur security advisor said that curfew had been relaxed for 12 hours in five valley districts and eight to ten hours in the neighboring hill districts. “Movement of essential items along NH-37 is ensured. 294 empty vehicles have left Imphal for Jiribam today. A total of 220 loaded vehicles have left Noney and 198 loaded tankers and trucks have left Jiribam today,” Singh said in a press statement.