Manipur orders district-level peace committees to promote dialogue and confidence-building, as Chief Minister warns armed groups of action under UAPA
IMPHAL — Manipur government has ordered the constitution of district-level peace committees in all districts to strengthen dialogue, community engagement and confidence-building measures amid the prevailing situation in the state.
According to an order issued by Joint Secretary (Home) Dr Mayengbam Veto Singh and circulated on Tuesday, the respective District Magistrates will head the committees as chairpersons.
The committees will include district Superintendents of Police, Sub-Divisional Officers and Sub-Deputy Collectors, district-level officials of relevant departments, and representatives of communities, civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local media and educational institutions. Retired government officials, doctors, other professionals, college lecturers, teachers and other persons considered appropriate by the chairperson may also be included.
The committees will serve as platforms for sustained engagement with community leaders and other stakeholders to promote mutual understanding, address grievances, prevent tensions and facilitate the restoration of peace and normalcy.
Their terms of reference include maintaining regular contact with communities and civil society groups, identifying concerns, recommending confidence-building measures and submitting recommendations to the government through the respective District Magistrates.
The committees will meet at least once every fortnight, or more frequently depending on the prevailing situation.
The order makes clear that the committees will function only as consultative and facilitative bodies and will not exercise powers assigned by law to the district administration, police or other competent authorities.
District Magistrates have been asked to periodically submit reports to the Home department on the committees’ activities, issues discussed, recommendations made and progress achieved.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday chaired a security review meeting to assess the law and order situation and discuss measures to strengthen security arrangements in the state.
During the meeting, held at the Cabinet Hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Mantripukhri, he directed security agencies to identify active armed groups, excluding those engaged in peace talks, suspected to be involved in recent violence.
He asked the agencies to submit a detailed report on the groups’ alleged involvement at the earliest. The chief minister said the state Cabinet would consider declaring such groups unlawful if their involvement in violence against civilians was established.
He also warned that groups continuing to perpetrate violence against civilians would face action under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In a post on X after the meeting, Khemchand Singh reiterated that action would be initiated against groups found responsible for violence against innocent civilians, including under the provisions of the UAPA.