Manipur Inquiry Panel Gets Sixth Extension As Report Remains Pending

UPDATE - follow-up to Manipur probe panel gets sixth extension, no sign of report yet: The central government has granted a sixth extension to the judicial commission investigating the ethnic violence in Manipur, pushing its report deadline to May 20, 2027.

Panel Details And Leadership

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs set up the three-member Commission of Inquiry on June 4, 2023. The panel looks into the sequence of events, the causes of the riots, and any lapses by authorities. Former Supreme Court judge Balbir Singh Chauhan currently heads the panel. He took charge after the former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, Ajai Lamba, resigned as chairperson in February this year. The commission has received about 11,000 affidavits so far.

Scale Of The Crisis

Ethnic violence erupted between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities on May 3, 2023, following a Tribal Solidarity March in the hill districts. The conflict has killed more than 300 people and forced around 60,000 people out of their homes. The unrest has now spread further to involve Kuki and Naga communities as well. Clashes between Naga and Kuki groups have killed over 60 people since February this year. President's rule was imposed in the state on February 13, 2025, and Yumnam Khemchand Singh took oath as the new Chief Minister on February 4 this year to end Central rule.

Context

Commissions of inquiry are set up by governments under the Commissions of Inquiry Act to investigate matters of public importance through a formal judicial process. Justice Chauhan is also leading a separate judicial inquiry into a deadly police firing incident in Leh, Ladakh, which took place on September 24, 2025.