New Delhi: Manipur accounted for 77 percent of the total violent incidents in the Northeast region in 2023, owing to ethnic strife between Meitei and Kuki communities in the state, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in its annual report released Tuesday.
While the entire region reported 242 incidents of violence, Manipur alone reported 187 such incidents, the report said. This, it added, led to a significant rise in casualties—civilians and security personnel—compared to 2022.
According to the report, counter-insurgency operations resulted in the killing of 33 insurgents, arrest of another 184 and recovery of 49 weapons in Manipur. Further, 80 cadres of insurgent outfits surrendered this year in the state.
The home ministry said that since violence erupted in Manipur on 3 May, 2023, the Centre has been consistently extending its support, as required by the state government. “Immediate action was initiated by engaging with top officials of Manipur, progressively deploying additional Companies of CAPFs and Army’s Assam Rifles columns, deploying helicopters and drones, and implementing a unified command system,” it said.
It said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited violence affected areas and rehabilitation centres and held more than 15 meetings with government officers, officers of security forces, political leaders and more than 100 members of civil society organisations.
MHA further said that in view of the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur, the central government has extended special assistance to the state which includes release of Rs 247.26 crore.
While Rs 101.75 crore has been sanctioned for operation of relief camps for the displaced, another Rs 89.22 crore was approved for nutrition and personal hygiene support to people living in relief camps; another Rs 209.45 crore was approved for relief and rehabilitation of victims.
Manipur has been plagued by ethnic violence for the last year and a half, which has left over 250 people dead and displaced 50,000 so far.