Manipur Governor to head Centre’s peace committee

The members of the committee include the Chief Minister and a few Ministers in the State government, MPs, MLAs and leaders from different political parties

Security personnel during a combing operation in Manipur on June 7, 2023. Photo: Twitter/@Spearcorps via PTI

The Central government has constituted a peace committee in Manipur to facilitate the peace-making process among various ethnic groups, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.

The committee, to be headed by the State’s Governor Anusuiya Uikey, includes Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, a few Ministers in the State Government, Members of Parliament, legislators and leaders from different political parties. Other members include former civil servants, educationists, littérateurs, artists, social workers, and representatives of different ethnic groups.

The committee’s mandate is to facilitate the peace-making process among various ethnic groups of the State, including peaceful dialogue and negotiations between conflicting parties and groups. It will strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication between various ethnic groups, the MHA statement said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets people from the Kuki community at a relief camp, in Kangpokpi, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced the constitution of the peace committee after taking stock of the situation when he visited the State from May 29-June 1.

Manipur has witnessed Violent clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 3, after a tribal solidarity march was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

So far, nearly 100 people lost their lives and over 300 have been injured, while more than 35,000 people have been displaced.