In an open memorandum, DMCC accuses Home Minister Amit Shah and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh of failing to restore order during 21 months of ethnic violence in Manipur.
BY PC Bureau
The Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee (DMCC) has formally called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur and take decisive action to restore peace in the state. In an open memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, DMCC officials accused the central government of neglecting Manipur—a state ravaged by over 21 months of ethnic violence that has left more than 60,000 people in relief camps and claimed hundreds of lives.
The memorandum, dated February 20, 2025, congratulates Prime Minister Modi on his recent electoral successes but sharply criticizes the administration’s handling of the crisis in Manipur. According to the DMCC, the state has suffered from a complete breakdown of law and order, which began on May 3, 2023, when protests against the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status escalated into widespread violence.
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A Timeline of Tragedy and Inaction
The document recounts how violence erupted on May 3, 2023, during the Vice President’s visit to Imphal. Kuki mobs, allegedly supported by armed militants, attacked Meitei villages in several districts including areas near the Bishnupur border and Torbung in Churachandpur. The attacks resulted in extensive property damage, destruction of religious sites, and mass displacement of Meitei communities.
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In the aftermath, counterattacks by Meitei groups further deepened the crisis. Despite the escalating chaos, both state police and central armed forces were criticized for their inability to restore order. The DMCC detailed several key incidents:
- On May 28, 2023, Kuki militants attacked 13 Meitei villages, claiming the lives of five individuals, including a police commando.
- A series of coordinated militant strikes in Moreh between late December 2023 and January 2024 further destabilized the region.
- On January 18, 2024, militants targeted multiple police posts in Moreh, including commercial and financial establishments, aggravating the security situation.
Government Measures Under Fire
The memorandum sharply denounces the central government’s response. It cites the appointment of retired IPS officer and former CRPF chief Kuldiep Singh as both Security Advisor and Chairperson of the Unified Command on May 4, 2023, as an inadequate measure. Instead of restoring coordination among security agencies, Singh’s leadership has been described as ineffective in quelling the violence.
Additionally, a judicial commission set up by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 1, 2023, has yet to produce any actionable report, leaving victims without justice and further fueling public resentment. The DMCC criticizes Mr. Shah for only sporadically visiting Manipur, notably during election campaigns, and accuses him of abandoning the state during its time of need.
A Plea for Immediate Action
In a pointed appeal, the DMCC memorandum issues several demands:
- Immediate removal of Home Minister Amit Shah and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh.
- Dismantling of military buffer zones that currently segregate Meitei and Kuki communities.
- Swift and safe resettlement of displaced persons to their original homes.
- A halt to policies that the DMCC claims have selectively targeted the Meitei community.
- A call for a unified dialogue between the conflicting communities to restore Manipur’s cultural and administrative integrity.
The DMCC insists that Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Manipur is essential to reassure the people that the government has not abandoned them and to signal the beginning of concrete measures to restore law, order, and justice. The invitation comes as the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the Assam Advantage 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit in Guwahati on February 24-25, 2025—a trip the DMCC believes should include a stop in Manipur.
As Manipur continues to grapple with deep-seated communal strife and governmental inaction, the DMCC’s memorandum is a stark reminder of the human cost of political neglect and a call for urgent intervention from the highest level of government.
