3-Member Team To Look Into Manipur Violence That KIlled Over 80 People

The Central government has formed a three-member commission to investigate the ethnic violence in Manipur that has claimed more than 80 lives since the beginning of May. The move came shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state, which took place last week.

Justice Ajai Lamba, former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court will lead the commission. The other members will be Himanshu Shekhar Das, a retired bureaucrat and Aloka Prabhakar, former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau.

A notification issued by the Union Home Ministry said the Commission will look into the causes of the spread of the violence and the events that led to it. It will also focus on whether there were any lapses or on the part of anyone, and the adequacy of administrative measures

The Commission has to submit its final report within six months.

More than 80 people have died in the ethnic clashes that started after a tribal solidarity march organised on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. It was preceded by another set of clashes over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land.  

The Kuki tribals have been demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

During his four-day visit to Manipur last week, Mr Shah had held talks with different stakeholders in an effort to restore calm in the state. On the last day of his visit, he urged all communities and sections of society to hold dialogues and and promote harmony.