Free movement, resettlement will take time, Home Ministry officials tell Meitei civil society groups

Home Ministry officials inform Meitei groups in Manipur that free movement and resettlement will take time, no specific timeline given.

The resumption of free movement for all communities along the National Highways in Manipur, and the resettlement of internally displaced people are “going to take some time”, Home Ministry officials told a delegation of Meitei civil society groups at a meeting in the National Capital. The officials “clearly stated” that this is “not achievable in a few months or a few weeks”, the Meitei groups said in a press conference on Wednesday (May 28, 2025), a day after the meeting.

The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), an Imphal-based coalition of civil society groups from Manipur’s valley regions, met with an MHA team led by North-East Adviser A.K. Mishra on Tuesday afternoon, even as protests broke out in Imphal again related to an alleged cover-up of the word “Manipur” on a State bus.

“There was a fruitful and constructive discussion on a range of issues with officials of MHA on Tuesday. It was clearly stated by MHA that the issues of opening National Highways, resettlement of the internally displaced persons, these are going to take some time. This is not achievable in a few months or a few weeks.” FOCS consultative member Puyam Rakesh said at the press conference.

At a security review meeting on March 1 this year, Home Minister Amit Shah had directed that from March 8, there would be free movement along the highways, which have been blocked since the ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023. However, on March 8, amidst attempts to enforce this direction, a 19-year-old man was killed and more than 40 people were injured in Kangpokpi district as Kuki-Zo people clashed with Central armed police forces.

Speaking on behalf of the FOCS delegation, Mr. Rakesh alleged that “the Union government is reluctant to use excessive force to reopen the highway”, adding that the MHA officials did not give any “specific timeline” for when these issues, such as free movement on the highways and resettlement of displaced persons, could be addressed. “We understand that these issues take time, but we urged for addressing immediate concerns of displaced persons, taking care of their financial needs, taking care of medical needs, and ensuring education for the children,” he said.

“That was the message given to us by the Government of India. We look forward to having more rounds of talks and also intercommunity dialogue with the Kuki-Zo community, which will be very important for restoring normalcy and peace i Manipur,” Mr. Rakesh said. While FOCS has agreed to engage with Kuki-Zo community associations, the delegation from Coordination Committee for Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), another Meitei group which met separately with MHA officials clarified that it will engage “exclusively with Government of India”. 

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