Manipur to set up 36‑community committee for peace, says chief minister

Manipur’s chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced on Oct 24 that a committee representing the state’s 36 recognised communities will be created to foster peace, harmony and inclusive growth in the conflict‑prone area. He said the idea came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked whether such a body already existed. The statement was made at a ceremony honoring hill chiefs held at the chief minister’s secretariat in Imphal, shortly after the inauguration of the Hill (Tribal) Chiefs’ Guest House in the Palace Compound as part of the 2026 Mera Hou Chongba Festival. Singh highlighted the historic role of all communities in defending Manipur, referring to the 19th‑century Anglo‑Manipur war and the period called the Seven Years’ Devastation, and thanked those who sacrificed for the state’s land and culture. He expressed optimism that the festival and the new guest house, which he described as a symbol of hill‑valley brotherhood, would usher in a period of calm and shared prosperity. He also noted that many hill‑area residents, some of whom had previously avoided traveling to Imphal, participated in the celebrations this year.

Context Manipur’s history of ethnic clashes between hill tribes and valley groups has often hindered development, so creating a joint community platform aims to build trust and reduce tensions.