The Manipur Information Commission has directed authorities to provide complete data within 15 days after gaps were flagged in the RTI response.
BY PC Bureau
April 22, 2026 — A total of 58,881 people have been displaced and more than 10,500 houses damaged in the ethnic violence that has gripped Manipur since May 3, 2023, according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply from the state government.
The data, provided by the Manipur Home Department on April 20, 2026, was in response to an RTI application filed in September 2025 by Congress leader Hareshwar Goshwami.
As per the official figures, 7,894 houses were completely destroyed while 2,646 were partially damaged, taking the total number of affected housing units to over 10,500. The government also stated that 217 people have died in the violence, based on cases where ex-gratia compensation was paid to the next of kin. However, independent estimates suggest the death toll may exceed 260.
The humanitarian crisis continues to strain relief infrastructure in the state. As of March 10, 2026, a total of 174 relief camps were operational, sheltering thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs). To address housing needs, the Manipur Police Housing Corporation has constructed 3,000 pre-fabricated houses for those affected.
READ: Kuki Liberation Army-L Demands AFSPA Re-Imposition in Imphal
Financial assistance from the Centre has been substantial. The Ministry of Home Affairs approved ₹424.36 crore for relief camp operations, of which ₹217.4 crore has been released. An additional ₹284.6 crore has been disbursed to Deputy Commissioners. Under a separate rehabilitation package, ₹523 crore was sanctioned, with ₹124.50 crore released so far along with ₹65.16 crore directly to district authorities. The state government has also allocated ₹14.24 crore for essential items such as mattresses and personal supplies for displaced families.
Reacting to the RTI response, Goshwami termed the information “partially satisfactory,” alleging that 30–40 per cent of the data sought was either incomplete or not adequately addressed.
Following an appeal, the Manipur Information Commission (MIC) on April 21 directed the Home Department to furnish comprehensive and consolidated state-level data on displacement, casualties, relief camps, and the health status of affected persons within 15 days. State Information Commissioner Nungshitombi Athokpam observed that the Home Department, being the nodal agency, is obligated under the RTI Act to compile and disclose such information.
The ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which erupted on May 3, 2023, continues to have a profound humanitarian and security impact across Manipur.
