Manipur CM chairs Unified Command meet, pushes to resume Imphal-Guwahati bus services
Synopsis
More than two years after ethnic violence severed Manipur's road links, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh convened the state's top civil-military leadership to review security and fast-track the revival of Imphal-Guwahati and Imphal-Dimapur bus routes — a move that could mark the most tangible sign yet of a return to normalcy in the conflict-hit state.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh chaired a Unified Command security meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Imphal on 10 August .
The meeting reviewed law-and-order, highway security, and inter-agency coordination, with top civil, police, army, Assam Rifles, and CRPF officials in attendance.
NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) has faced severe disruptions since ethnic violence erupted on 3 May 2023 , affecting passenger movement and essential supply chains.
A separate meeting with transporters discussed early resumption of Imphal-Guwahati and Imphal-Dimapur bus services, announced on 8 August at Kangpokpi.
No major violence has been reported in Manipur for nearly two months , according to officials.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday, 10 August chaired a Combined Headquarters (Unified Command) security meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Imphal, reviewing the state's law-and-order situation and accelerating plans to restore inter-state bus connectivity disrupted by over two years of ethnic unrest, according to officials.
Key Developments at the Unified Command Meeting
The high-level meeting brought together the state's top civil and military leadership. Attendees included Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Chief Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Police Mukesh Singh, Additional DGP (Intelligence) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) Major General Gaurav Sharma, General Officer Commanding of the 57 Mountain Division Major General Subhankar Basu, and Inspector General of CRPF Rajendra Narayan Dash, among other senior officials of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and intelligence agencies.
The meeting focused on maintaining peace, strengthening inter-agency coordination, improving intelligence gathering, and ensuring uninterrupted movement of people and goods along key transport corridors, officials said.
The Highway Crisis: NH-2 and NH-37
Central to the deliberations were the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) — the two arterial lifelines connecting landlocked Manipur to the rest of the country. Movement along NH-2, which passes through Kangpokpi district, has remained severely disrupted since the outbreak of ethnic violence on 3 May 2023, due to intermittent blockades, security threats, and law-and-order breakdowns. The disruptions have caused acute hardship to commuters and critically affected the supply of essential commodities to the state.
Push to Resume Inter-State Bus Services
Following the Unified Command session, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh chaired a separate meeting with the same senior officials and representatives of the transport sector to discuss the early resumption of Imphal-Guwahati and Imphal-Dimapur bus services. The meeting reviewed security arrangements and confidence-building measures necessary for safe passenger operations on both routes.
The resumption of these services had been jointly announced on 8 August by Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, and Independent MLA Haokholet Kipgen of Saitu Assembly Constituency at a programme held at Kangpokpi district headquarters. The two routes connect Manipur with the neighbouring states of Assam and Nagaland.
Significance Amid Relative Calm
Notably, no major incident of violence has been reported in Manipur for nearly two months, according to officials — a significant, if fragile, improvement. The Unified Command meeting nonetheless carries weight as the state government seeks to consolidate security gains and move against militants, armed groups, and other destabilising elements. Officials reiterated the government's commitment to restoring normal life, rebuilding public confidence, and securing unimpeded movement of people and goods across the state.
The proposed restoration of bus services is widely regarded as a critical confidence-building step — one that, if successful, could signal a broader return to normalcy after more than two years of ethnic conflict.
Point of View
Even as the root causes of the May 2023 ethnic conflict remain unresolved. Restoring NH-2 connectivity is necessary but not sufficient; the deeper test is whether confidence-building measures can hold in Kangpokpi district, where the highway disruption has been most acute. Two months without major violence is encouraging, but the state has seen such lulls before. The real marker of normalcy will be whether ordinary commuters actually board those buses — and whether those buses run without incident.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was discussed at Manipur's Unified Command security meeting on 10 August?
The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh at the Civil Secretariat in Imphal, reviewed the state's overall law-and-order situation, security along key national highways, inter-agency coordination, and intelligence preparedness. A separate follow-up session with transporters focused on resuming inter-state bus services to Guwahati and Dimapur.
When were the Imphal-Guwahati and Imphal-Dimapur bus services announced for resumption?
The resumption of both bus services was jointly announced on 8 August at a programme held at Kangpokpi district headquarters by Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, and Independent MLA Haokholet Kipgen of Saitu Assembly Constituency.
Why has NH-2 in Manipur been disrupted for so long?
NH-2, which connects Imphal to Dimapur through Kangpokpi district, has been severely affected since the outbreak of ethnic violence on 3 May 2023. Intermittent blockades, security threats, and law-and-order breakdowns along the highway have disrupted passenger movement and the supply of essential commodities to the landlocked state.
Who attended the Unified Command meeting in Imphal?
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Chief Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Mukesh Singh, Additional DGP (Intelligence) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo, IG Assam Rifles (South) Major General Gaurav Sharma, GOC 57 Mountain Division Major General Subhankar Basu, IG CRPF Rajendra Narayan Dash, and senior officers from CAPFs and intelligence agencies.
What is the current security situation in Manipur?
According to officials, no major incident of violence has been reported in Manipur for nearly two months. The state government says it remains committed to consolidating security gains, acting against militant and armed groups, and restoring normal life — with the revival of inter-state bus services seen as a key confidence-building measure.
