BY PC Bureau
January 15, 2026: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Manipur’s Churachandpur district have submitted a detailed memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, drawing attention to the prolonged humanitarian crisis affecting thousands displaced by the state’s ethnic conflict. The IDPs have sought compensation for destroyed and looted homes and properties, strict action against those responsible for the violence, and immediate financial assistance for affected families.
The letter, dated January 12 and routed through the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur, outlines urgent demands related to relief, rehabilitation, compensation, and unresolved legal cases stemming from the violence that erupted in May 2023 between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
The submission came days ahead of a massive rally held on January 14 in Churachandpur .where thousands of Kuki-Zo community members, under the banner of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), demanded a political resolution including a separate Union Territory under Article 239A of the Constitution. Rally participants also opposed the resettlement of Meitei IDPs in buffer zones near Kuki-Zo areas, warning that such moves could reignite violence.
According to official figures, the ethnic clashes—triggered by demands for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community—have claimed at least 258 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people since 2023. Churachandpur, a Kuki-Zo-dominated hill district, has emerged as a major refuge, with around 15,000 IDPs currently housed in 84 relief camps.
In their letter, leaders representing tribal communities–Zomi, Hmar, Vaiphei, and Mizo IDP groups– estimate that between 25,000 and 30,000 displaced persons are currently sheltering in Churachandpur. While nearly half reside in relief camps, the remainder are living in rented accommodation, with relatives, or in partially damaged homes under what they describe as “extremely difficult conditions.”
The memorandum criticises what it calls prolonged administrative inaction, noting that nearly three years after the displacement began, authorities have yet to finalise accurate IDP figures or implement comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement programmes. The delay, the letter states, has “deepened the suffering of thousands of families.”
Among the key demands is the preparation of a verified and transparent list of all IDPs—both camp and non-camp—organised village-wise or block-wise to ensure equitable access to relief and compensation.
The grievances are grouped under three major headings:
Relief for Non-Camp IDPs:
The representatives allege discrimination against non-camp IDPs, stating that despite facing equal or greater hardship, they have received no financial or material assistance. They demand that relief, including Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), be extended to all non-camp IDPs retrospectively from May 2023.
Property and Vehicle Compensation:
The letter seeks full compensation for houses, properties, and vehicles destroyed or looted during the violence, based on FIRs already filed. It also calls for waiver of outstanding loans on destroyed houses and vehicles where insurance compensation has not been provided. The memorandum alleges bias in compensation processing, claiming FIRs filed in Imphal East and West remain largely unattended.
READ : Most Kuki-Zo MLAs Shut Door on Manipur Govt Sans UT Committment
Pending FIRs:11
The signatories urge expedited investigation of pending FIRs related to arson, looting, missing persons, and killings, calling for urgent intervention to address the continuing trauma faced by displaced families.
The letter concludes with an appeal to the Governor to direct concerned departments to take “immediate, coordinated, and result-oriented action,” warning that further delays would undermine public faith in governance and justice.
The signatories include leaders from multiple IDP organisations, among them Dr. R. Sanga, Dr. Vumkhoneh Haokip, Dr. John Pulamte, S. Suanthang, K.C. Charles, and others. Copies were forwarded to the Chief Secretary of Manipur, the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur, and local media.
The submission aligns with broader Kuki-Zo demands articulated in a January 14 memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where the KZC reiterated calls for a separate administration and opposed Meitei resettlement in buffer zones.
Meanwhile, Meitei civil body COCOMI also met Governor Bhalla on January 12, seeking clarity on resettlement plans. The Governor reportedly assured that concrete plans would be announced soon.
With sporadic violence continuing—including recent IED blasts in buffer zones—analysts warn that failure to address IDP grievances equitably could further entrench divisions between Manipur’s hills and valley, deepening an already fragile crisis.
