The Meitei Society Churachandpur has urged the Manipur government to prioritise the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) before organising the Sangai Festival and reopening border trade at Moreh.
The demand was made at a press conference in Imphal after the organisation submitted a memorandum to the Governor, Chief Minister and Home Minister seeking early resettlement of displaced people.
Meitei Society Churachandpur general secretary Ningthoujam Ramesh Singh said IDPs from both the hills and valley had been assured during President’s Rule that resettlement would be undertaken in phases, with the first phase to be completed by December 2025 and the remaining families resettled by March 31, 2026.
He alleged that the commitments had not been fulfilled despite the formation of an elected government, leaving displaced families in relief camps and dependent on government assistance.
“Until and unless IDPs are resettled, it is meaningless to say peace has returned in Manipur,” Ramesh said.
The organisation also raised concerns over restrictions on movement between the valley and hill areas.Ramesh alleged that representatives and legislators from the Kuki community had visited valley districts and met the Chief Minister, while similar movement by people from the valley to hill districts remained restricted.
He sought equal freedom of movement for all communities, including access to Moreh, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and the National Highways.
The society also questioned the proposed Sangai Festival and reopening of border trade at Moreh while a large number of people remain displaced. It said the government should first restore normalcy and facilitate the return and rehabilitation of IDPs.
Ramesh said holding the festival without addressing the resettlement issue could create additional tensions if conflict-affected communities were brought together without adequate security and confidence-building measures.
The demand comes amid continuing calls for rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced people as part of efforts to restore normalcy in Manipur. In September, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) also called for the Sangai Festival to be held only after peace was restored and IDPs resettled.
