Modi May Finally Visit Manipur After Two Years of Conflict, Admin to Shut Down Relief Camps by December

New Delhi: Amidst unconfirmed reports of Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to pay a visit to Manipur after over two years of ethnic conflict had ruptured the border state, local administration has spelt out details of a rehabilitation process of the internally displaced persons (IDPs), announcing that it plans to shut down all relief camps by this December.

This is the first time, the state, now under President’s Rule, is giving a clear-cut time-frame for rehabilitation of over 60,000 people affected by the ethnic conflict that broke out between the Kukis and the Meiteis in May 2023.

Speaking to reporters in Imphal on July 4 on the sidelines of an event, state chief secretary P.K. Singh said it has come up with a phase-wise plan to resettle the IDPs housed in relief camps across the state by this December, after discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Second phase of resettlement of the IDPs would take place in October

“We have had a good round of discussions with the central government and the MHA. The first phase involves those who can go back immediately – by July, and that process has already begun. The number of displaced has come down from 62,000 to 57,000,” PTI reported from Imphal.

The news report quoted Singh saying that the second phase of resettlement of the IDPs would take place in October “followed by the third and final round by December”. The assessment to carry out the second round of it in the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Kangpokpi areas have already happened.

Singh also said there would be a financial component linked to their rehabilitation. “Financial assistance of Rs 3.03 lakh for those whose home have been destroyed,” he stated.

“We also have around 7,000 people whose homes were not destroyed but have become dilapidated after two years of neglect. Some form of monetary assistance will be provided to them as well,” he added.

Several properties belonging to the Kuki community still stand in Imphal. A special ground report by The Wire this April had shown that most such houses were under the control of the armed militia founded by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP L. Sanajaouba, Arambai Tenggol. It is not clear yet whether the chief secretary Singh was referring to such properties too.

Importantly, Singh said that even after the final round of resettlement of the IPDs are carried out in December, there would still remain 8000-10,000 people who might not be able to return to their original homes “particularly those displaced from areas like Moreh, Churachandpur, and Kangpokpi.” It would essentially mean that many Meitei people residing in those Kuki-doninated areas won’t be able to return home.

“These people will be accommodated in pre-fabricated houses. An additional 1000 units are being constructed for this purpose,” he added.

As per a Supreme Court order in 2023, the state administration was to ensure rehabilitation of the affected persons and file a status report. In December 2024, the apex court had once again directed the state government to disclose details of properties destroyed and encroached upon after the violence. The court had also formed the Gita Mittal Committee to monitor rehabilitation in the state.

On July 4, chief secretary Singh also responded to a question about free movement of people between the state’s hill and valley areas, saying, that it would “resume soon”.

“The central and state governments, civil society organisations, and community leaders are all working together (to ensure the physical border between the two areas re-open).”

Singh also highlighted that “farming activities are happening, on both sides of the divide.” He said, “people are working within eye-ball distance, even sharing water. It is a good sign. One or two incidents might still occur – mischievous elements are everywhere – but overall things are improving.”

'Security forces were told to be prepared for a visit by the Prime Minister'

Singh’s announcement of the phase-wise rehabilitation of the affected people comes at a time when there are unconfirmed reports in a section of media that Prime Minister Modi would finally visit the beleaguered state this July.

“A senior security officer in Manipur, who asked not to be named, said that in two meetings chaired separately by union home secretary Govind Mohan and governor Ajay Bhalla, security forces were told to be prepared for a visit by the Prime Minister,” reported the Hindustan Times.

The report also added, “A senior BJP functionary in New Delhi, who too asked not to be named, said “the PM’s visit to Manipur is likely and is being planned. No dates have been fixed yet.”

The chief secretary did not speak about Modi’s likely visit to the state but did add that several of the “major infrastructure projects are ready for inauguration, including the new Civil Secretariat in Imphal and Manipur Bhavans in Delhi and Kolkata which could be jointly inaugurated when the opportunity arises.”

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