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India Today
5 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Restoring normalcy: Manipur Governor announces 3-phase resettlement of displaced
In a major step toward healing and restoring normalcy in violence-affected Manipur, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has announced that the phased resettlement of displaced persons will begin this month and is expected to be completed by December announcement was made during a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan, Imphal on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by leaders of three key civil society organisations — the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS). Top security officials, including the Security Advisor to the Manipur Government, the Director General of Police, and the Home Commissioner, also participated in the to the media at the Manipur Press Club, COCOMI Convenor Kh Athouba said the meeting was a follow-up to recent discussions with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials in New Delhi. A 19-member delegation from the three civil organisations had returned to Imphal earlier in the day after meeting the central leaders. According to Athouba, the Governor confirmed that the state government has begun implementing crucial elements of the peace roadmap agreed with the MHA. These include the reconstruction of houses destroyed during the ethnic violence and renovation of partially damaged homes, with funding allocated for both hill and valley resettlement will occur in three phases, starting in July and aiming for full completion by December. Governor Bhalla assured the delegation that the process will be inclusive and the meeting, the Governor also addressed the recent Guwaltabi incident, where the word 'Manipur' was reportedly erased from a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus. Bhalla confirmed that the inquiry report is ready and will be made public within two concerns in farming zones were also discussed, particularly the June 20 Phubala incident, where a Meitei farmer was injured in an alleged attack by armed Kuki militants. In response, the government has deployed an additional 1,000 personnel from the Manipur Rifles and Indian Reserve Battalion to vulnerable agricultural areas. Five security personnel have also been suspended over reported lapses in the further enhance farmer safety across hill and valley regions, Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been formed under the respective Deputy Commissioners for rapid deployment in case of threats. Civil society leaders also urged the police to issue a public assurance guaranteeing protection to the issue of illegal immigration, Athouba revealed that 13,935 undocumented individuals have been detected so far. Of them, 13,917 have already been deported to their places of origin. Work on Indo-Myanmar border fencing is also under progress, with 40 km already completed in Chandel and Churachandpur districts to prevent further delegation reiterated their firm stance that the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups should not be extended until peace is fully restored. They stressed that maintaining law and order must remain a priority for both the state and central has been gripped by ethnic unrest since May 3, 2023, resulting in over 250 deaths and the displacement of more than 60,000 people. The Governor's latest announcement offers a potential path forward in one of India's most challenging internal conflicts, with hopes that resettlement and reconstruction will help rebuild fractured communities.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘No extension without consensus': Manipur groups tell Centre in Delhi talks
NEW DELHI: Three civil society organisations from Manipur, including Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), held a round of dialogue with Centre's representatives led by interlocutor A K Mishra here on Monday, seeking preservation of territorial integrity of the state, steps to ensure free movement of people and phased resettlement of people displaced by ethnic violence by the end of this year. The three Meitei-dominated groups, COCOMI, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), also sought implementation of a national register of citizens (NRC) or a similar mechanism in Manipur to 'effectively address the issue of illegal migration'. Concerns over the home ministry's recent directive to detect illegal immigrants within a 30-day timeframe was discussed, and need for proper mechanisms and safeguards emphasised. The 19-member delegation comprising representatives of COCOMI, AMUCO and FOCS told the advisor (northeast) Mishra, who was assisted by IB and MHA officials, to formulate a phased and time-bound roadmap to address the ethnic tensions in Manipur and find lasting and sustainable solutions. The Manipur outfits conveyed their clear stance against any extension of suspension of operations (SOO) agreements without a prior comprehensive and amicable understanding among all stakeholders in the state, as per a statement put out by COCOMI after the talks. They particularly raised concerns regarding security and safety of farmers who own land in peripheral areas of the Imphal Valley. Such areas have seen ethnic clashes in the past. The delegation said it had conveyed its willingness to be part of future meetings with all stakeholders, provided such initiatives serve the larger interest of restoring lasting peace and normalcy in Manipur. They also sought the future rounds of dialogue to be held in Imphal. Among the other issues raised were release of the long-pending report on the Gwaltabi incident, which involved security forces covering the Manipur's name on a bus. A detailed report on the construction of a 343 km-long illegal road along the Churachandpur-Kangpokpi axis was submitted for investigation and intervention. The MHA officials, as per COCOMI, assured the delegation that the matters raised by are being seriously considered and shall be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for action and approvals.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MHA holds talks with Meitei CSOs to discuss ways to resolve Manipur ethnic conflict
NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday held the third round of talks with a joint delegation of Manipur valley-based Meitei Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). According to sources, the deliberations concluded on a positive note. The sources said the delegation had come with a four-point declared agenda, and they stood firm on it. They also said to the MHA representatives that the time has come now for action rather than talks. The 19-member delegation included seven representatives each from the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), and five from the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS). From the MHA side, four senior officials, including interlocutor AK Mishra, Joint Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Rajesh Kamle and Sunil Kumar, and Rahul PR, both Superintendent of Police in the IB, participated in the meeting, which was held in two sessions. The sources said that the morning session took place from 11.30 am to 2 pm, during which three main points were discussed and in the afternoon session, which was held between 2.55 pm and 3. 25 pm, two additional issues were discussed. The CSO delegation brought forward critical concerns such as the security and livelihood of farmers in vulnerable fringe areas, the reopening of blocked National and State Highways, and the proper rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at their original places of residence. The sources said that the MHA responded positively to the delegation's demands. However, the CSO leaders stressed that only concrete implementation would determine whether the dialogue translates into real progress for the people of Manipur. Meanhile, COCOMI coordinator Khuraijam Athouba has reportedly said that the meeting discussed pressing issues affecting peace and stability in the state. Another COCOMI leader said that they urged the MHA to introduce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur to identify illegal immigrants to protect indigenous people. During the meeting, the CSOs reiterated their rejection of the legitimacy of militant outfits under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) and engaging with the innocent Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar civilians, the sources said. The sources said that the MHA is also scheduled to hold a separate dialogue with Kuki armed groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement on July 4.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Home ministry holds talks with Meitei groups to resolve the Manipur crisis
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A fresh round of dialogue between the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and members of a joint delegation of leading Meitei-based Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) was held in New Delhi on Monday to resolve the ethnic crisis in Manipur A 19-member delegation of three CSOs -- All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) – held a discussion with four MHA officials led by A.K. Mishra, Advisor to the MHA on Northeast Director, MHA Rajesh Kamble, Sunil Kumar and Rahul P.R., both Superintendent of Police, IB, also attended the meeting, held in two coordinator Khuraijam Athouba said that the meeting discussed pressing issues affecting peace and stability in the state. Another COCOMI leader said that they urged the MHA to introduce the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur to identify illegal immigrants and protect indigenous delegation conveyed the strong sentiments and demands of the people regarding May 20, the Gwaltabi issue , when some security personnel in Imphal East district reportedly instructed the media team to hide the 'Manipur State Transport Corporation' signage in front of the bus carrying 20 journalists and some Information Department officials. The CSOs also demanded adequate security for the farmers and to start the free movement of people across the CSOs reiterated their rejection of the legitimacy of militant outfits under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) and engaging with the innocent Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar civilians who are the genuine citizens of the state shall be handled accordingly after sorting out the anti-peace elements. United Peoples' Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), which are conglomerates of 23 underground outfits, signed an SoO with the Central government on August 22, 2008, and then there are 2,266 Kuki cadres who have been staying in different designated camps in discussions between the MHA officials and three CSOs centred around restoring normalcy, ensuring public safety, and addressing long-standing grievances over the Centre's perceived inaction. Monday's engagement is seen as a renewed initiative to bridge differences through dialogue. It follows months of memoranda, protests, and appeals submitted by the civil society said that the MHA is also scheduled to hold a separate dialogue with Kuki armed groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement on July 4. The MHA officials earlier also held discussions separately with the Meitei CSOs and various organisations of the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal organisations.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
In a first, 3 major Meitei groups unite to meet MHA officials in Delhi today
1 2 Guwahati: In a first, a 19-member delegation comprising representatives from three prominent Manipur-based organisations headed by Meiteis — COCOMI, AMUCO and FOCS — will meet senior officials from the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) in New Delhi on Monday, amid increasing calls to establish a democratically elected govt in Manipur. Leaders of these organisations previously met the home ministry officials separately but are now united to raise their demand jointly, as the Manipur crisis has lingered for more than two years now. Manipur has been under President's rule since Feb. The four key focus points where the three civil society organisations (CSOs) have planned to emphasise are — territorial integrity, opening of highways for free movement, resettlement and rehabilitation of the internally displaced people, and security for the farmers. The security of farmers has been a concern as Manipur has recently witnessed clashes between Kukis and Meiteis regarding the ploughing of lands in the peripheral areas, where Meitei farmers have gone for farming near Kuki settlements. Convenor of COCOMI, Khuraijam Athouba, said they will be pursuing the long-pending issues of the Manipur crisis and other key issues that need urgent solution. Seven members from AMUCO, seven from COCOMI and five members from FOCS have travelled to New Delhi on Sunday for the meeting, where the adviser (northeast) of the MHA, AK Mishra, and joint director of intelligence bureau Rajesh Kamble, are expected to be present. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo The three organisations held a joint meeting at a hotel in Imphal on Saturday evening. "Farmers are not secure in the periphery areas. This must be highlighted seriously. Free movement along the national and state highways was assured by the home ministry in the first meeting but has not been successful. This should be discussed in the meeting for earliest and effective implementation of free movement in the highways," an AMUCO spokesperson said. Regarding the internally displaced people, he said their concerns have not yet been addressed to a satisfactory level. "The IDPs are living in a very pathetic situation, which we are witnessing," the spokesperson said. The three organisations are of the view that the IDPs should not be rehabilitated here and there, instead the focus should be on their resettlement in their original places. "We need to prioritise issues, while seeking lasting peace," Athouba said.
