Manipur Violence: Govt Appoints ADG, Centre Takes Over Security Of State As Situation Worsens

Imphal: The Manipur government named Ashutosh Sinha, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Intelligence, as the overall Operational Commander to maintain order and restore normalcy in the state. Since Wednesday, there has been a lot of violence in several areas of Manipur. The government of Manipur has also been given a security advisor by the Centre. Sinha will work under his guidance.

The order for Ashutosh Sinha’s appointment was issued on Thursday.

After the law and order situation spiralled out of control over the past couple of days and an uptick in violence across the state, the move is seen as a blatant jab at current DGP P Doungel.

Kuldeep Singh, a retired IPS officer and former commander of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been named the government of Manipur’s security advisor.

On Wednesday, violence broke out during the “Tribal Solidarity March” organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the Churachandpur district’s Torbung area in opposition to the non-tribal Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation.

At the rally, which was attended by thousands of agitators, there were clashes between tribal and non-tribal people.

A defence official said on Thursday that 9,000 individuals have so far been rescued by the forces from the violent areas and provided refuge, and that additional people are still being relocated to safer locations.