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Officials said on Saturday that 54 people have been killed in the clashes in Manipur so far. (file photo: PTI)
In the statement, CM Shinde said his government is monitoring the situation in Manipur
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said that 22 students from the state currently stuck in riot-hit Manipur will first be flown to Assam where a special flight will be arranged to bring them back home.
As many as 14 of them have been shifted to the Shiv Sena office in Manipur, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Violent clashes recently broke out between tribes and members of the majority Mete community in the northeastern state of Manipur, so far displacing more than 13,000 people and killing at least 54 people.
The clashes erupted after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in 10 hill areas of the state to protest the Mitte community’s claim to Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
In the statement, CM Shinde said his government is monitoring the situation in Manipur. His deputy, Devendra Fadnavis, also promised to provide assistance to the affected students.
There are 22 students (in Manipur) from Maharashtra. I spoke to two of them – Vikash Sharma and Tushar Uhad – and assured them of arranging a private flight back home. I told them not to be afraid of anything, the state is making all necessary arrangements for their safe return.
The statement said the students were studying in some institutes of technology in Manipur.
“I have also spoken to Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Manoj Sonik and other officials of the state to make arrangements. We are monitoring the situation closely at the moment,” the Prime Minister said.
Shinde’s office later shared more updates saying that it had contacted Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to discuss providing safe passage for students from Maharashtra to return home.
She added that the students will be taken to Assam first and from there a special flight will be arranged for them to return home. The statement said Shinde had contacted Sarma in this regard.
Shinde’s office said the Maharashtra chief has also contacted the Manipur chief V. Sena M. Tumbi Singh by phone and asked him to provide all necessary assistance at the local level.
In the evening, Shinde’s office said 14 students were taken to Sena’s office in Manipur where they were given “food and other necessary items”.
During a phone call, Shinde spoke with the students and inquired about their safety and well-being. The students also thanked Shinde for making arrangements at short notice.
Maharashtra Assembly Opposition Leader Ajit Pawar, who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), told reporters in Baramati in Pune that he had appealed to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to coordinate with the Center and the Manipur government to facilitate security. Returning students from Manipur.
Fadnavis also spoke to the students and reassured them that arrangements would be made for their safe return, a statement from his office said.
“The situation was tense in the past days in Manipur and students pursuing their NIT courses were under stress. Some students contacted Fadnavis via SMS. Fadnavis spoke to them via phone call and assured them of all kinds of support and assistance.
The statement said Fadnavis, who is also the Home Minister, spoke to the Director General of Police in Manipur and asked for security for the students. “Arrangements are under way,” she added.
Under the watchful eye of army drones and helicopters deployed for aerial reconnaissance, life is returning to normal as the curfew was eased on Sunday in parts of Manipur that have seen bloody ethnic riots over the past few days. In all, 120-125 army columns were deployed in the whole riot situation. Sources said that around 10,000 paramilitary and central police forces have been deployed in Manipur.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is republished from a syndicated news agency feed.)
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