Ajay Kumar Bhalla reviews Manipur situation; deployment along roads discussed

Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla reviewed the law and order situation in the state on Tuesday. “This was a follow-up meeting after the security situation of Manipur was reviewed at a meeting held in New Delhi recently, under the chairmanship of Union home minister Amit Shah,” the Raj Bhavan stated. A senior official who did not want to be named said that security deployment along the highways was discussed as Shah has asked the state to ensure that there is regular vehicular movement from March 8.

Since May 3, 2023, most of the roads and highways are blockaded and Meiteis do not venture into Kuki dominant areas in the hills and vice versa. Private checkpoints are put on highways by different groups. Chief secretary PK Singh, security advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh along with senior officials from the Army, Assam Rifles, BSF, Manipur Police and CRPF attended the meet.

After the expiry of the seven-day period, Bhalla had on February 28 extended by a week the time given for the return of looted and illegal weapons and ammunition to the security forces.