Manipur crisis: 58,821 displaced, shutdowns grip state since 2023

Guwahati: Manipur's home secretariat in an RTI reply to Congress leader Hareshwar Goswami stated that a total of 58,821 people were displaced till March 30 this year, even as the state is battling a fresh crisis after the recent killings.

The RTI reply stated that since May 2023 around 217 people were provided ex gratia, which was given to the next of kin. Regarding the number of relief camps till March 10, 2026, the reply said it stood at 174, while 3,000 prefabricated houses were constructed by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation.



Also Read: Manipur shutdown disrupts life after minors killed in Bishnupur attack

"Around 7,894 houses were permanently damaged and 2,646 houses were partially destroyed since May 3, 2023," it was stated. Goshwami in a social media post said it took "seven months of effort" to receive the information on the internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Meanwhile, both valley and hills continued to be under shutdown. On Wednesday, protesters stopped movement of security forces. Manipur Police picked up a cop for causing trouble. Manipur Police stated on X, "On 21.04.2026, Manipur Police arrested two residents of Tingri Makha Leikai who were causing violence at Koirengei crossing ...Imphal East district by burning debris on the road and targeting security forces by using slingshots and pelting of stones: Thoudam Gojendro Singh and Pukhrambam Imo Chinglemba. Thoudam Gojendro Singh is a Manipur (policeman)."

While normal life in the valley districts was already paralysed for the fourth day on Wednesday, a three-day total shutdown called by Naga civil bodies paralysed normal life across several hill districts. KuKi bodies also called for shutdown in the Kuki-dominated areas on Wednesday.


Also Read: Three-day Naga shutdown paralyses Manipur hill districts amid valley unrest


The shutdown was called by the United Naga Council which started on Monday midnight in response to the killing of two civilians - an ex-Army personnel and another individual who were shot dead by unidentified gunmen along NH-202 in Ukhrul district on April 18. The incident has triggered widespread outrage across Naga-inhabited areas.

Several valley-based organisations have called for bandh seeking strict action against people responsible for the bomb attack in Bishnupur district that killed two minors on April 7. A 13-hour shutdown brought normal life to a halt across Manipur's Churachandpur district on Wednesday as Kuki-Zo groups pressed for action over the death of BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte. He died in February this year. Valte was the first MLA who was a victim of the Manipur ethnic violence which broke out on May 3, 2023. Valte, a banker-turned-politician, suffered multiple injuries when he was attacked by protesters in Imphal in May 2023. Valte, who belonged to the Zomi tribe, had undergone treatment in New Delhi.