Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram arrived here on Tuesday for a two-day visit. Soon after his arrival, he was closeted with Manipur Governor Gurubachan Jagat, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, and senior Army and intelligence officers to take stock of the law and order situation.
His visit comes in the backdrop of attempts to bring all the insurgent outfits to the negotiating table. Valley-based outfits, including the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), have been distancing themselves from peace efforts.
On Wednesday, Mr. Chidambaram will visit Ukhrul district to inaugurate a mini secretariat and a guest house. This will be the first time a Union Minister is visiting the border district after the ambush of the independent MLA, W. Keishing, and his entourage in April, in which six Manipur Rifles troopers and two civilians were killed.
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The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), which has been holding peace talks for 10 years, says that Mr. Keishing has been acting against the interests of the people.
It may be recalled that Mr. Keishing has been advocating the upgradation of the Phungyar sub-division to a full-fledged district. Some Naga organisations had objected to it.