Manipur CM urges end to bandhs, vows to rebuild community trust
Synopsis
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh used a bridge inauguration in Imphal West to deliver a pointed message: bandhs hurt the poorest, not the powerful. With communities in Jiribam reportedly sitting together for the first time since the ethnic conflict, and two children killed in a Bishnupur bomb blast just weeks ago, Singh's peace-building pitch is being tested in real time.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on 22 May appealed against bandhs, blockades, and shutdowns, saying they harm daily wage earners and economically weaker sections .
Singh recounted visits to Jiribam district where members of the Hmar , Kuki , Paite , and Meitei communities reportedly agreed to collectively restore peace.
A bomb blast in Tronglaobi village, Bishnupur district on 7 April killed two children , highlighting the state's continuing security challenges.
Three bridges in Imphal West district were inaugurated at a combined cost of approximately ₹7 crore .
The CM assured residents of Akham and Maklang of a new community hall, dam assessment, road development, and review of a Primary Health Centre proposal.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday, 22 May appealed to citizens across the state to refrain from bandhs, blockades, and shutdowns, warning that such protests disproportionately harm daily wage earners, labourers, and economically weaker sections. Speaking at a bridge inauguration event under the Lamsang Assembly Constituency in Imphal West district, Singh called for dialogue over disruption as Manipur continues its fragile recovery from prolonged ethnic unrest.
A Mandate to Rebuild Trust
Singh said he has been entrusted with the responsibility of rebuilding trust among the state's diverse communities and ensuring peaceful coexistence. He stressed that one of his foremost priorities is creating conditions in which people from different communities can travel freely and safely through each other's areas — a basic right that the ethnic conflict had severely curtailed.
Speaking at Akham village, the Chief Minister recounted two recent visits to Jiribam district — the first by helicopter and a follow-up visit by road. During both visits, he said, members of the Hmar, Kuki, Paite, and Meitei communities sat together and collectively committed to restoring peace and normalcy. He noted that several Hmar and Kuki villages share neighbourhoods with Meitei villages, underlining the urgency of mutual understanding.
Shadow of Violence: The Bishnupur Blast
Singh acknowledged that challenges persist. He recalled that immediately after his return from Jiribam, a bomb blast struck Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district on 7 April, killing two children. He described the incident as 'extremely unfortunate — not only for Manipur and India, but for humanity as a whole.' The blast underscores the volatile ground on which the state's peace-building efforts rest.
Development Promises Across Imphal West
At Akham village, Singh responded to a memorandum from a local club seeking a community hall, a dam, and a water supply scheme. He assured residents that a new community hall would be constructed in consultation with the local MLA, and that engineers from the Minor Irrigation Department had already visited the site to assess dam feasibility.
At Maklang, the Chief Minister announced that road development connecting Patsoi Lamkhai to Manipur Olympian Park at Sangaithel would be completed before the next Assembly elections. He also indicated that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a market shed for women vendors is being prepared, and that the government would examine demands for a new Primary Health Centre in the area.
Three Bridges Inaugurated, ₹7 Crore Invested
Friday's event saw the inauguration of three bridges in Imphal West district. The RCC bridge over the Nambul River at Akham Mayai Leikai was constructed at a cost of ₹3 crore under a state scheme. The pucca bridge over the Maklang River was built under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) scheme at approximately ₹2 crore, while a third pucca bridge over the Merakhong stream at Salam Mamang Leikai was constructed at an estimated ₹2 crore.
The event was attended by MLAs S. Rajen Singh and Kh. Ibomcha Singh, Chief Engineer (PWD) Chongtham Bishwachandra Singh, and officials from several departments alongside villagers from Akham, Maklang, and surrounding areas.
Singh also paid tribute to the women vendors of the iconic Ima Keithel — the all-women's market — calling their resilience a symbol of the strength of Manipuri society. As the state inches toward normalcy, his administration faces the dual test of delivering on development promises while sustaining a fragile inter-community peace.
Point of View
The call for dialogue rings hollow for communities still unable to return to their villages. The Jiribam visits signal intent, but one bomb blast in Bishnupur is a reminder that spoilers remain active. The real measure of his tenure will not be bridge inaugurations but whether displaced families can go home without fear — a metric his government has yet to define publicly.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh appeal against bandhs?
Singh argued that bandhs, blockades, and shutdowns disproportionately hurt daily wage earners, labourers, and economically weaker sections, and called on all groups to resolve grievances through dialogue instead. He made the appeal at a bridge inauguration event in Imphal West on 22 May.
What happened during the Manipur CM's visits to Jiribam?
Singh visited Jiribam district twice — once by helicopter and once by road — and said that members of the Hmar, Kuki, Paite, and Meitei communities sat together and agreed to work collectively toward restoring peace. He noted that many displaced families have begun returning to their villages.
What was the Tronglaobi bomb blast Singh referred to?
A bomb blast struck Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district on 7 April, killing two children. Singh described it as 'extremely unfortunate — not only for Manipur and India, but for humanity as a whole,' and cited it as evidence of the challenges still facing the state.
Which bridges were inaugurated in Imphal West on 22 May?
Three bridges were inaugurated: an RCC bridge over the Nambul River at Akham Mayai Leikai (₹3 crore, state scheme), a pucca bridge over the Maklang River (approximately ₹2 crore, RIDF scheme), and a pucca bridge over the Merakhong stream at Salam Mamang Leikai (approximately ₹2 crore).
What development promises did the CM make to Akham and Maklang villages?
Singh assured Akham villagers of a new community hall and a dam — with engineers from the Minor Irrigation Department already assessing feasibility. At Maklang, he committed to road development connecting Patsoi Lamkhai to Manipur Olympian Park, a market shed for women vendors pending DPR completion, and a review of the demand for a Primary Health Centre.
