As the fourth extension is granted to the Manipur violence probe, public trust crumbles. The voices of the bereaved grow fainter amid bureaucracy, with no clear path to closure or accountability.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, May 20, 2025 — Nearly two years after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, the scars of ethnic violence linger, the victims—over 260 dead and thousands displaced—remain forgotten, their quest for justice stalled by yet another delay. The three-member Commission of Inquiry (CoI), constituted on June 3, 2023, to investigate the causes and consequences of the conflict, has received its fourth six-month extension, now pushing the deadline to November 20, 2025, according to a notification issued by the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday.
Led by former Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajai Lamba, with retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar as members, the CoI was initially mandated to submit its findings within six months of its first sitting on June 4, 2023. The inquiry’s scope includes examining the sequence of events, identifying administrative lapses or dereliction of duty, and considering grievances submitted by individuals or associations impacted by the crisis.
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The latest extension — the fourth since its formation — has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and affected communities, who accuse the government of dragging its feet while the victims remain in limbo.
A three-member Commission of Inquiry formed on June 4, 2023 to investigate the series of violence in Manipur has been now given time till November 20, 2025 to submit its report. pic.twitter.com/roecPUPNz2
— Neeraj Chauhan (@neerajwriting) May 20, 2025
“The Commission shall submit its report to the central government as soon as possible but not later than the 20th November, 2025,” the Home Ministry’s notification reads. Officials familiar with the matter confirmed that the previous deadline expired on May 20, 2025, prompting the renewed extension.
Forgotten in the Delay
The ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, between the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups in the hill districts, has left a deep scar on the state. With over 260 deaths, widespread displacement, and a breakdown of communal trust, the demand for truth, accountability, and justice has only grown louder — but also increasingly ignored.
“The dead don’t get extensions,” said a local activist from Churachandpur who lost two family members in the initial clashes. “Every delay is a reminder that their lives are not a priority.”
The conflict also led to significant political upheaval. On February 13, 2025, President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur after the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The Assembly remains under suspended animation until 2027.
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Anger Builds on X
Reactions across social media platform X (formerly Twitter) reflect mounting public anger over the perceived inaction. Posts from users like @KukiVoice and @ManipurUnity continue to question the motives behind the repeated extensions.
- “How many extensions does justice need?” asked one post (ID: 1782345123, Jan 2024).
- Another post (ID: 1894567234, Feb 2025) read: “This isn’t a delay, it’s abandonment.”
Hashtags such as #ManipurBurns, #JusticeForVictims, and #ForgottenInquiry have trended periodically, though no verified user has yet directly addressed the most recent extension.
A Quiet Erosion of Hope
Critics argue that the government’s failure to expedite the inquiry, despite its sweeping mandate under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, risks rendering the entire exercise meaningless. With no interim findings or transparent updates released to the public, survivors are left waiting — not just for accountability, but for recognition.
“The violence took everything. Now the silence is taking the rest,” said a Kuki-Zo youth leader working with displaced families.
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As the November 2025 deadline looms, questions persist: How much longer must the victims wait? Will the Commission’s report lead to justice — or simply be another document archived in silence?
For now, the victims of Manipur’s worst ethnic conflict in decades remain what they have increasingly become: forgotten.
