Manipur Violence: Centre Constitutes Committee Headed By Governor To Facilitate Peace-Making Process

The Centra government has constituted a Peace Committee in Manipur under the chairpersonship of state Governor with an aim to facilitate peacemaking process among various ethnic groups in the Northeastern state.

The members of committee include Chief Minister, a few ministers in the state government, MP, MLAs and leaders from different political parties.

The committee also includes former civil servants, educationists, litterateurs, artists, social workers and representatives of different ethnic groups.

"The mandate of the Committee will be to facilitate peace making process among various ethnic groups of the state, including peaceful dialogue and negotiations between conflicting parties/groups," Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement on Saturday (10 June).

The committee should strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication between various ethnic groups, the MHA said.

The announcement comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced the constitution a peace committee after taking stock of the situation in Manipur during his four-day visit to the state from 29 May to 1 June.

The violence in Manipur erupted on 3 May during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

The march was organized in protest against the demand for inclusion of the state’s Meitei community in the ST category, following a 19 April Manipur High Court directive.

Following the violence, the Central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control.