11K FIRs, 500 Arrested: PM Modi Says Peace Returning To Manipur

New Delhi: Prime Minister Modi, speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the Motion of Thanks to the President's speech, announced that 11,000 FIRs have been registered and 500 people arrested in efforts to restore peace in Manipur. He noted that peace is gradually returning to the region and emphasized that the people are actively working towards reconciliation. He called for everyone's cooperation to ensure lasting peace in Manipur.

State, Centre Worried about Manipur: PM

On Manipur Violence, PM Modi has said that the state and the central government are worried about the situation in the state and are proactively working towards restoring peace. 

PM Modi said, “The Home minister has stayed in the state for an extended period of time. He goes to the state frequently to talk to various groups to come to a peaceful conclusion. State and Centre are worried about Manipur.”

'Over 11,000 FIRs Filed, More Than 500 People Arrested'

Explaining the current situation and government's actions in Manipur, PM Modi further said that thousands of FIRs have been registered and arrests are also being made and violence has also gone down as compared to earlier.

In his words, “We are working to bring peace to Manipur. Over 11,00 FIRs have been filed. More than 500 people have been arrested. We need to accept that violence in Manipur dying out. It's becoming possible to hope for peace. Schools, colleges and offices are functioning like normal now.”

‘One Day Manipur Will Reject You…’ PM Modi's Dig At Congress

Taking a dig at Congress for bringing the issue of Manipur Violence in their election campaigns and political speeches, the Prime Minister said, “Stop politicising Manipur issue, one day Manipur will reject you.”

PM Modi also highlighted the fact that under the Congress government, President's Rule was put multiple times but the same has never happened under his government. He said, “Congress put President's rule in Manipur 10 times under its government. This did not happen under my government.”

Just recently, during the ongoing Lok Sabha session, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had pointed out that PM Modi has remained silent over Manipur Violence. He had said, “Manipur has been in the grip of violence for the last 13 months, but Modiji neither went there nor did he express any concern about the recent violence.”

PM on Development in Northeast Under His Govt

Speaking about the development done in the north-east by the current government, PM said, “What we have done in the Northeast in 5 years is comparable to what Congress would have done in 20 years. Another generation would have gone by. To bring peace to the Northeast, we have taken several steps. We have ended border issues between states.”

What Happened In Manipur?

On May 3 2023, violence erupted in Manipur between the tribes Meitei and Kuki amid the former's demand to the Centre for a Scheduled Tribe status. Protests for the same were being held by the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur when clashes broke out between the two communities.

The violence escalated to such an extent that within a week, 77 Kukis and 10 Meiteis were killed. While the ST status was the key issue that triggered the violence, there were other pent-up issues that further ignited it.

The Kukis considered themselves being targeted by the state government's treatment of indigenous land right concerns which resulted in their evictions because of efforts to survey forests. The Meiteis had experienced a rise in insecurity because of the many refugees who came from Myanmar after the military coup, especially those who belonged to the Sagaing region.

Apart from the ethnic violence, crimes against women also spiked during this time. One such incident that shocked the entire nation was of July 2023 when a video was circulated online. The video was of two Kuki women who were stripped, paraded naked on the streets, slapped and sexually assaulted by presumably Meitei men. 

The incident was two months old but because of the internet shutdown in the state, the video was seen later. The Centre ordered for the removal of the viral video from all social media platforms and the Supreme Court also warned to intervene if action wasn't taken by the government. 

In the past year, there have been multiple incidents of violence and the daily life in the state is still not completely normal. As of May 2024, the ethnic violence in the state has killed 221 people and has displaced 60,000 others according to government figures. Internet remained suspended in the state for months together.