'Both groups should maintain peace, justice will be done': Amit Shah to visit violence-hit Manipur
Guwahati/IBNS: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday appealed for peace in Manipur and said he would visit the northeastern state soon and interact with people of both ethnic communities involved in the ongoing violence.
"Amit Shah will take stock of the prevailing situation in Manipur and will stay on from May 29 to June 1," Nityanand Rai, Minister of State Home Affairs in Imphal said.
"There were clashes in Manipur after the verdict of a court. I would appeal to both groups, they should maintain peace, and justice will be done with everyone. I will myself go to Manipur after few days and will stay there for three days and will talk to people of Manipur for establishing peace," Shah said at an event in Guwahati.
One person was shot dead and houses were set on fire as fresh ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, reports said Thursday.
Manipur has been on the boil after an explosion of interethnic violence this month killed at least 70 people and left tens of thousands displaced.
Some 2,000 houses were also burned down across the state.
The violence was sparked as a result of rage among the Kuki tribal group at the prospect of the majority Meitei community being given guaranteed quotas of government jobs and other perks in the form of affirmative action.
This led to long-held fears among the Kuki that the Meitei might also be allowed to acquire land in areas currently reserved for them and other tribal groups.
The military has deployed thousands of troops to the state, where curfews have been imposed and the internet cut for several weeks.
An indefinite curfew was reimposed on Wednesday in the flashpoint Bishnupur district after suspected militants fired at a group of people, fatally wounding one person.