Despite the deployment of central security forces to curb violence in Manipur, calm has not been restored over the past year. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's convoy was recently ambushed. When Today's team inquired about the attack, Singh expressed his embarrassment over the assault on his security fleet within his own state.
On May 3, 2023, violent skirmishes broke out between two communities in Manipur. Numerous innocent people from the Kuki and Meitei communities became casualties. Although most areas have now normalized, sporadic violent incidents persist. Gunfire was reported near the Assam border in the Jiribam area, causing many families to flee. As Chief Minister N. Biren Singh prepared to visit for an assessment, his advance security convoy was ambushed. The nation witnessed the visuals of the attack.
CM Says the Situation Was Grave but Shows Improvement
The ambush on the Chief Minister's security convoy raises serious questions about the government's claims of restoring peace in the state. A year later, Today's ground team returns to Manipur. Correspondent Ashutosh Mishra asked CM N. Biren Singh about the situation, who stated, "Originally, the situation was extremely serious, but with the arrival of central security forces, some improvements have been made. However, stopping this immediately will take time, and political dialogue is essential. Incidences of firing had largely stopped, yet now sudden bursts of violence flare up in certain places."
Source: aajtak
How Did the Security Lapse Happen? CM Calls for Investigation
When we asked the Chief Minister of Manipur about the oversight in the security apparatus in light of anticipated violence in Jiribam, Biren Singh responded, "It is deeply unfortunate that there has been a failure in intelligence and security coordination. A high-level investigation will be conducted, ordered by the Chief Secretary, to understand where things went wrong." The ambush on the Chief Minister's troop raises questions about intelligence leaks and the missed opportunities to prevent the assault.
Source: aajtak
In conversation with Today, Manipur's CM reiterated his claim that within the next two to three months, peace and order will be fully restored in the state, especially since a new government is in the center, exerting all efforts to control the situation.
