COCOMI pushes for recognition of displaced hill people as IDPs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 08 2026: YK Dhiren, convenor, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, has urged the Government to conduct verifications and officially recognise people who have been displaced from the hills as internally displaced persons (IDPs) .

Speaking to reporters at the committee's office at Lamphelpat today, Dhiren said that the prolonged conflict which erupted in May 2023 has become a conflict involving three communities.

Even after nearly 4 years, the conflict has not been resolved and is continuing to displace hundreds of people in the hills, he said.

COCOMI pushes for recognition of displaced hill people as IDPs

While many of the people displaced from the interiors of the hills are taking refuge in Imphal and other safer places, these displaced persons have not been recognised as internally displaced persons by the Government, depriving them of assistance they are entitled to as IDPs, Dhiren said.

With the Government not recognising them as IDPs, the displaced persons are facing immense difficulties and have not been given proper assistance as other IDPs are getting, he added.

Considering the hardships they are facing, the Government must immediately verify people who have been displaced from villages in the interiors of the hills and officially identify them as internally displaced persons (IDPs) for providing necessary assistance, Dhiren said.

Further, the Government is encouraged to construct or provide the people displaced from the hills a designated relief camp in Imphal, he added.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has received many complaints from Meitei IDPs staying in relief camps in Imphal, Dhiren said.

The Meitei IDPs have complained about lack of assistance and other grievances including the Government's failure to rehabilitate and allow their return to their original villages, he said.

While relief packages were assured to IDPs staying at the Kangchup Chingkhong relief camp, the Government is learnt to have not delivered on its promises, Dhiren said.

The IDPs who had their hopes up that the Government would allow them to return to their homes are now aggrieved by the Government's failure to deliver its promises, he added.

Further, IDPs from Dolaithabi have expressed their grievances that the second phase instalments towards construction of houses have not been released yet, Dhiren further said.

To address the grievances of the displaced persons, the Government should promptly take up appropriate actions.

It should take up concrete measures to resolve the conflict and allow the return of all the IDPs to their original homes.

In the meantime, it should provide adequate and timely assistance to all the IDPs, Dhiren further said.