7,894 houses razed to the ground: RTI reply shows
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 21 2026 : In response to an RTI application filed by Hareshwar Goshwami, vice-president, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), it has been revealed that a total of 7,894 houses have been permanently destroyed while another 2,646 have been partially damaged since the outbreak of violence in the State on May 3, 2023.The information was shared by the MPCC vice president during a press briefing held today at Congress Bhawan, Imphal.

The RTI application was submitted on September 8, 2025, while the Manipur Home Department furnished the required information yesterday (April 20).Responding to the information sought by the MPCC vice-president (nine queries), the Manipur Home Department declared that the total number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since the beginning of the Manipur crisis on May 3, 2023 till date stands at 58,881 (as on March 30, 2026) .

The total number of relief camps is 174 as on March 10, 2026 while the number of pre-fabricated houses is 3000.The total number of deaths and injured in connection with the Manipur crisis since May 3, 2023 till date stands at 217 as per ex-gratia provided to next of kin.

Regarding the amount of fund proposed, sanctioned and released for IDPs since the beginning of the conflict, the RTI reply disclosed that under special assistance for operation of relief camps, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved a total sum of Rs 424.36 crore, out of which Rs 217.4 crore was released by MHA and Rs 284.6 crore was released to the Deputy Commissioners.

Under the special package for rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs, the MHA approved Rs 523 crore and released Rs 124.50 crore, while another Rs 65.1635 crore was released to the DCs.

The RTI reply also mentioned Rs 14.238070 crore as support for purchase of mattresses and personal items (State scheme).

Citing a discrepancy between the approved and released funds, the MPCC vice-president said there may be some funds that have not yet been approved but declared that he does not have any concrete information about the matter.

Despite such huge sums being released for the welfare of IDPs, Hareshwar Goshwami highlighted the poor living conditions and challenges faced by the inmates in relief camps and pre-fabricated houses.

In view of their prolonged suffering, he urged the State Government to get the necessary funds from the Central Government to improve their lives.

Coming back to the RTI reply, the Manipur Home Department did not furnish any information in response to four queries filed by Hareshwar Goshwami.

These include information about the total number of IDPs in pre-fabricated houses/structures and relief camps, total number of IDPs who have died in relief camps and pre-fabricated houses/structures and total number of inmates suffering from terminal diseases/incurable illness and type of assistance provided to them for their treatment.

For all three queries, the RTI reply stated that the list is handled by the concerned Deputy Commissioners.

Responding to the query about total number of unnatural deaths in relief camps and pre-fabricated houses till date and steps taken up to prevent such occurrence in future, the Manipur Home Department once again said that the list is handled by the concerned DCs, while adding that regular medical check-ups, supply of medicines and counselling services are provided in relief camps.

The MPCC vice president reportedly made an argument questioning why the Home Department failed to provide answers for certain queries.

He further questioned why this information must be sought from the concerned DCs instead.

At this, the State Information Officer directed the Home Department to collect all necessary reports from the DCs and furnish the information to the RTI applicant within the next 15 days, according to Hareshwar Goshwami.

During the press briefing, he also detailed the struggles he faced in trying to get a proper response to his RTI application.

Others present at the event include MPCC vice president Vidyapati Senjam; general secretary Md Aamir Hussain and other prominent leaders.

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