Governor asks CSOs to work for restoration of peace
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 07 2025: Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Tuesday visited Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts, interacted with various Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs) and appealed to the CSO leaders to work collaboratively with the administration in peace-building efforts.

According to a Raj Bhavan release, the Governor's maiden visit to the two strife-hit districts after assuming office, covered various relief camps, and interacted with the displaced people, who have been staying in the relief camps since the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023, during his brief stop-overs.

Governor asks CSOs to work for restoration of peace

"The Governor patiently heard the problems faced by the displaced people and assured to extend support to them," said the release, adding that he also inaugurated the newly-constructed IT Centre at Churachandpur College a nd interacted with the students there.

The Governor interacted with the students at the college and heard grievances and problems faced by students amid the present crisis.

Responding to queries raised by students, the Governor assured that the government is working to bring everything back to normal as it does not want students to suffer.

Later, the Governor proceeded towards DC's office where he held meetings with leaders of the CSOs like Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), ITLF and others.

After the meeting, the Governor had lunch at 27 Sector Assam Rifles complex, visited relief camps including at Sadbhavna Mandap, Tuibong, and left for Imphal.

Earlier, leaders of Kuki-Zo Council, accorded a warm reception to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at DC's office and submitted a memorandum highlighting pressing issues relating to the Kuki-Zo community.

The memorandum said that there is need for maintaining the sanctity of the Buffer Zones, re-demarcation of district police jurisdictions and deployment of neutral central security forces.

The Council leaders also conveyed about their longing for peace to prevail to pave the way for solution besides proposing to the Governor that political talks should be expedited with SoO groups.

They also said that Separate Administration - Union Territory with legislature for the kuki-Zo people should be granted under Article 239 (A) of the Indian Constitution for peace to prevail.

The memorandum said that there has been no improvement in the security situation following over a year-and-a-half of killings and displacements and citizens continue to face daily danger of death.

"One-and-a-half years after the violence began, Kuki-Zo community people's homes and properties are still being set on fire and destroyed.

To date, almost 7,000 homes have been demolished, over 220 Kuki-Zo community people have lost their lives, over 360 places of worship were destroyed, and about 40,000 have been made homeless," the memorandum said.

The memorandum, signed by Council chairman Henlianthang Thanglet and general secretary Reverand Dr VL Nghakthang said: "Our only hope of survival lies in a political solution for the Kuki-Zo community, which is total separation from the Manipur government and the Meitei people" .

They said that now that the hills and valleys have been divided, the only thing left is separation in the administration.

"Only after the separation is completed will there be peace.

We implore you to acknowledge our predicament, act quickly to address our concerns, and support our desire to have a separate administration which is a Union Territory with a legislature under Article 239 (A) of the Indian Constitution," the memorandum said.

After patient hearing, the Governor promised that the Central government will maintain neutrality in maintaining law and order.

The Zomi Students' Federation also submitted a memorandum to the Governor apprising him about issues faced by the students including the issue of Churachandpur Medical College and the need for setting up an examination centre in the district.

On his way back to Imphal, the Governor visited the Ching-nu Thangjing Guest House Relief Camp at Moirang in Bishnupur district and interacted with the camp residents and distributed relief materials.

Bhalla, after assuming the gubernatorial charge of Manipur on January 3, held a meeting with the top security officials the next day and reviewed the law and order situation of the troubled state.

The Governor directed the state Director General of Police Rajiv Singh to prioritise the safety and security of the people and urged officers from the Army and paramilitary forces to extend their fullest cooperation to the administration in maintaining law and order in the state.

Bhalla, a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, as the top official of the Ministry of Home Affairs for a long time, has vast experience in dealing with the various crisis situations in the northeastern region.

He was the Union Home Secretary when the ethnic violence between the majority Meitei and minority Koki-Zo community began in Manipur on May 3, 2023 .

During the 20-month-long ethnic violence, over 250 men and women of both communities were killed, over 1,000 were injured and more than 60,000 people were displaced from their homes and villages.

(With inputs from Agencies) .