More than three years after ethnic violence disrupted Manipur, the state Assembly has turned attention to the human cost due to conflict and questions of citizenship documentation, with the House recording 306 deaths and seeking an update of the NRC before the Census.
3 Key Takeaways
- Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh said 306 people have been killed and 49 remain missing since ethnic violence began in May 2023.
- The Assembly unanimously urged the Centre to update the National Register of Citizens in Manipur before the Census process.
- The House also discussed security concerns, violence-related cases and efforts to address the trust deficit between communities.
The human cost of prolonged ethnic conflict in Manipur and the demand for an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) emerged as two key issues before the state Assembly during its ongoing session.
Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh told the House that 306 people have lost their lives and 49 remain missing since violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in May 2023.
The Assembly also unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the central government to update the NRC in Manipur before the Census process.
The developments came during the eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly. The three-day session is being held on September 2, 3 and 7.
Conflict Leaves Hundreds Dead
The casualty figures presented by the Home Minister underline the continuing impact of the ethnic violence that has affected Manipur for more than three years.
According to the statement made in the House, 306 people have been killed since the conflict began in May 2023. Another 49 people are still missing.
The violence has also displaced tens of thousands of people. Their rehabilitation remains among the wider challenges facing the state as authorities continue to deal with the consequences of the conflict.
The figures were presented while legislators raised issues related to the continuing security situation.
Several incidents were discussed in the Assembly. These included alleged abductions, killings and attacks linked to the conflict.
The Home Minister also provided updates on investigations into individual cases. These included the Leilon Vaiphei abduction-and-murder case, in which arrests have been made.
Assembly Seeks NRC Update Before Census
Alongside the discussion on casualties and security, the Assembly took a significant position on the NRC.
The House unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to update the National Register of Citizens in Manipur before the Census exercise.
The move adds a major administrative and political dimension to the Assembly’s proceedings. It places citizenship documentation alongside security and conflict-related concerns being discussed by legislators.
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The resolution was adopted on the opening day of the current session.
Home Minister Calls for Collective Responsibility
Responding to calling attention motions, Govindas Singh appealed for a joint effort to restore lasting peace.
He called on communities, religious leaders and other stakeholders to work together and shoulder their responsibilities.
The minister also stressed the importance of restoring trust between communities. He said collective action and a commitment to humanity were necessary to address the existing trust deficit.
At the same time, he reaffirmed the determination of the people and the government to protect Manipur’s territorial integrity and unity.
Border Security Also Discussed
The Assembly also took up questions related to the India-Myanmar border.
The Home Minister said there was no official report of any land-swap agreement between India and Myanmar.
He informed the House that fencing work had been completed along nearly 55 km of the 398-km international border.
The government has set a target of completing the entire fencing project by 2028.
Wider Legislative Business
The session also covered several other legislative and financial matters.
The Assembly introduced bills including the Manipur Panchayati Raj (Ninth Amendment) Bill and the Manipur Fire and Emergency Service Bill.
Members also discussed supplementary grants and made obituary references.
The latest proceedings come against the backdrop of more than three years of intermittent ethnic unrest. The prolonged crisis earlier resulted in President’s Rule and a change in state leadership in 2026.
For the Assembly, the current session brings together several unresolved challenges. The latest casualty figures highlight the continuing human cost of the conflict. The NRC resolution, meanwhile, signals the House’s push for action on citizenship records ahead of the Census.
Further proceedings are scheduled for September 7. (Sources: X posts from verified accounts including Press Trust of India (@PTI_News), The Times of India (@timesofindia), India Today NE (@IndiaTodayNE), and IANS (@ians_india) etc.)
