Manipur violence probe panel meets CM, interacts with displaced families across 4 dists
Imphal, May 31
The Chairman and members of the Commission of Inquiry, constituted on June 4, 2023, to investigate the Meitei-Kuki ethnic conflict, are currently on a three-day visit to the state, officials said on Saturday.
The Judicial Commission, comprising retired Justice B.S. Chauhan as Chairman and its two members -- Himanshu Sekhar Das, IAS (Retd.), and Aloka Prabhakar, IPS (Retd.) -- held discussions with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and briefed him on the objectives and progress of their visit.
An official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that during their three-day visit from May 29 to 31, the Commission members have already visited relief camps housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the ethnic violence in Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Imphal West and Imphal East districts.
As part of the field visit, the Commission inspected the prefabricated relief camp at Torbung in Churachandpur district.
During the visit, the Commission interacted directly with camp inmates, listening to first-hand accounts of displacement, hardship and concerns arising from the ethnic violence.
The displaced families shared their experiences, challenges and expectations regarding rehabilitation, security and government support.
The interaction provided an opportunity for camp residents to articulate their grievances, living conditions and aspirations before the inquiry panel, enabling the Commission to gain a deeper understanding of the ground realities faced by those affected by the conflict.
Officials said the visit forms part of the Commission's ongoing efforts to gather first-hand evidence and ensure that the inquiry remains firmly rooted in the lived experiences of affected communities across both the hill and valley districts.
Commission Secretary Mohan Lal Meena and Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar accompanied the Commission during the visits.
Deputy Commissioner Dharun Kumar S., Additional Deputy Commissioner Seiminthang Lenthang, SDO Churachandpur Anunay Anand, SDO Kangvai Mangminthang Gangte, and SDO Tuibong Jangminlen Lupho were also present and accompanied the inquiry team during its interactions and inspections.
Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently extended the tenure of the Commission, pushing the deadline for submission of its final report to November 20, 2026.
The three-member Commission has been mandated to examine the causes of the unrest, trace the sequence of events that led to the violence, assess whether there were any lapses in the administrative response, and identify factors that contributed to the escalation of the conflict.
In addition, the Commission has been tasked with recommending measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, strengthen public confidence and facilitate the restoration of lasting peace and normalcy in the state.
The inquiry panel was initially headed by Justice (Retd.) Ajai Lamba, former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
Subsequently, the leadership of the Commission was taken over by Justice B.S. Chauhan.
Since its formation, the Commission has been conducting hearings, recording testimonies of stakeholders and affected persons, collecting evidence, and undertaking visits to violence-affected districts as part of its efforts to complete a comprehensive inquiry into the ethnic conflict.
— IANS
Reader Comments
At least they're listening to the camp residents. But the real question is: will this commission actually recommend something that stops the violence? Or is it just a paper exercise to show the world that 'action is being taken'? The Meitei-Kuki conflict has deep roots—land, identity, resources—and hearings alone won't fix that.
I've family in Imphal West. They say relief camps are overcrowded and basic supplies are running low. The CM meeting is just optics. What we need is the Army to provide better security so people can go back to their homes. Otherwise, another 2026 deadline means nothing. 😡
It's heartbreaking to read about displaced families sharing their experiences. I hope the commission genuinely listens. But I'm skeptical—India has a long history of commissions that collect evidence and then gather dust. The MHA should fast-track rehabilitation instead of kicking the can down the road.
The presence of retired IAS and IPS officers gives me some hope—they know how administration works. And visiting 4 districts is a good start. But I'm worried about the political angle. The CM will be under pressure to shield his own government's failures. Let's see if the commission is truly independent.
I appreciate the effort to understand ground realities. But yaar, how many reports do we need? The violence started in May 2023. Now it's 2025, and the commission's final report is due in 2026—three years later! Meanwhile, families are living in fear. At least the prefab camp at Torbung sounds like temporary relief.
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