Imphal, Dec 28 (NationPress) It is anticipated that the new Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, will officially take office next week, as confirmed by local officials on Saturday.

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, appointed the former Union Home Secretary, Bhalla, to this esteemed position on Tuesday, following the tenure of Anusuiya Uikey.

Currently, Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya has been overseeing the gubernatorial responsibilities in Manipur since July 31, while Bhalla prepares to take charge.

Bhalla, who is a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, possesses a wealth of experience in managing crises in the northeastern region of India.

He was serving as the Union Home Secretary when the ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023.

Over the course of an 18-month period of ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, more than 250 individuals lost their lives, over 1,000 were injured, and the violence led to the displacement of more than 60,000 people from their homes.

Bhalla's appointment as Governor is a strategic decision aimed at addressing the ongoing ethnic tensions in the region.

In spite of the unprecedented deployment of central security forces and the partial reintroduction of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in select areas, violent incidents continue to occur in certain districts.

Many organizations, including the influential Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which represents the Meitei community, are calling for the repeal of AFSPA.

Manipur's Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, recently stated that resolving the ongoing ethnic conflict will require time, as the situation has become complex, chronic, and fragile.

However, the Chief Minister noted that the situation in Manipur is gradually improving, with most districts remaining incident-free for several months.

“The state and central security forces, along with the civil administration, are making every effort to maintain peace and provide services to the citizens,” Biren Singh shared with the media.