Three years on, Manipur remains tense amid ongoing violence

Guwahati: It's been three years since the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, but nothing much seems to have changed on the ground despite the imposition of President's rule and the subsequent restoration of a popular government. Violence has ratcheted up a notch despite all this. The trust deficit seems to have widened further despite Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh undertaking a couple of tours in the hills and valleys to build trust.

Daily life continues to be affected with the normal movement of vehicles and people through the highways from the valley to the hills yet to resume ever since the May 3, 2023 violence. Manipur home minister K Govindas Singh recently said that out of the 272 companies of CAPF deployed in Manipur, 88 companies were withdrawn due to the West Bengal elections.

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And the administration is saddled with the Herculean task of rehabilitating the displaced people. The home secretariat, in an RTI reply to Congress leader Hareshwar Goswami, recently stated that a total of 58,821 people were displaced till March 30 this year. Since May 2023, around 217 people were provided ex-gratia, which was given to the next of the kin.

Regarding the number of relief camps till March 10, 2026, the RTI reply stated that it stood at 174, while 3,000 prefabricated houses have been constructed by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation. "Around 7,894 houses were permanently damaged, and 2,646 houses partially destroyed since May 3, 2023," it was stated.

CABINET EXPANSION IN A LIMBO

A senior BJP leader, who did not want to be named, said the continuing series of violence has even affected the expansion of the council of ministers. CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh had assumed office in February. The leader said, "Seven ministerial berths are vacant. However, the Cabinet expansion is yet to receive a nod from the BJP's central leadership".

On March 4, the chief minister allocated portfolios among the two Deputy Chief Ministers and two Cabinet Ministers, retaining most key departments with himself.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, Nemcha Kipgen and Konthoujam Govindas Singh belong to the BJP, while Losii Dikho and Khuraijam Loken Singh are from the Naga People's Front (NPF) and the National People's Party (NPP), respectively. The lone woman minister and BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen belongs to the Kuki community.

NAGA AREAS AFFECTED

The violence in Manipur has engulfed all areas, including the Naga dominated areas which were not part of the conflict. The Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur include Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel, and parts of Kangpokpi. In the last couple of months, there have been frequent incidents in Ukhrul with three people being killed and several others injured in a violent clash on April 24.

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According to the police, heavy exchange of fire took place in Mullam village area under Litan police station on Friday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. The deceased have been identified as Paominlun Haolai (22), Letlal Sitlhou (41), and Horshokmi Jamang (29).

Haolai and Sitlhou belonged to the Kuki community, while Jamang was from the Tangkhul Naga community. They were residents of three different districts -- Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Kamjong. Many houses were burnt down in the Mullam village during the clash.

SOLIDARITY PROGRAMMES

Valley-based civil society organisation -- the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) -- has announced that it will organise a people's convention on May 3 to mark the third observance of the ongoing Manipur conflict.

COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren said the convention aims to discuss and chart a future course of action for resolving the prolonged conflict in Manipur.

NIA ARRESTS

There is an indefinite shutdown in Moreh after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a prime accused in the 2023 killing of a Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in an attack by suspected Kuki militants in Manipur.