Manipur CM Khemchand Singh urges peace in hill areas amid ongoing unrest
Synopsis
More than three years into Manipur's ethnic conflict, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh turned to church leaders, teachers and students to carry the peace message into the hill districts — an appeal that underscores how far formal political resolution remains, even as bandhs and blockades continue to disrupt education and daily life.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on 18 October 2026 acknowledged continued unrest in hill districts and appealed for peace and harmony.
He addressed the Catholic Valley Schools' Sports and Literary Meet at Catholic School, Canchipur, Imphal , attended by 13 schools .
The CM specifically called on Catholic Church leaders , teachers and students to spread peace messages in violence-affected hill areas.
He highlighted that bandhs and blockades have disrupted students' education and hit daily wage earners hard.
Khemchand Singh invoked PM Modi's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision and urged all communities to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation .
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday, 18 October 2026, acknowledged that several hill districts in Manipur continue to experience unrest, and appealed to all communities — including church leaders, teachers, and students — to actively spread the message of peace and harmony across the conflict-affected state.
Key Appeal at Catholic Schools Sports Meet
The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the Catholic Valley Schools' Sports and Literary Meet at Catholic School, Canchipur, in Imphal. The event, attended by representatives of 13 Catholic Valley Schools, was held under the theme 'Together for a Peaceful Manipur' — a theme Khemchand Singh described as 'highly meaningful and relevant in the present situation of Manipur.'
He specifically appealed to Catholic Church leaders, teachers, and students to carry forward peace messaging into communities most affected by violence, stressing that collective effort is essential to restore normalcy and rebuild inter-community trust.
Students Among the Worst Affected
The Chief Minister drew attention to the academic disruption caused by the ongoing ethnic conflict, noting that students have been among the hardest hit. He pointed out that bandhs (shutdowns) and blockades have not only interrupted education but have also severely impacted daily wage earners and others dependent on their daily income for survival.
Khemchand Singh stressed that continued disruptions risk adversely affecting the future of Manipur's younger generation, and underscored the need for the state to progress in step with the rest of the country.
Vision of a Developed India
Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision, the Chief Minister called upon all communities to work collectively towards a developed India, with Manipur playing an active role in the nation's progress. He urged people to move beyond the 'unfortunate incidents of the past' and embrace forgiveness, reconciliation, and mutual understanding.
Notably, Manipur has been gripped by ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, leaving hundreds dead, thousands displaced, and large swathes of hill and valley districts deeply polarised. The state has witnessed repeated cycles of violence, curfews, and internet shutdowns in the intervening period.
What Comes Next
The Chief Minister's remarks signal a continued government push for dialogue and grassroots peace-building, even as formal political negotiations between the two communities remain stalled. The appeal to educational institutions and the Church — both influential in Manipur's hill communities — suggests an outreach strategy that bypasses conventional political channels. Whether such appeals translate into ground-level de-escalation remains to be seen.
Point of View
But it also highlights the governance vacuum in the hills, where state authority remains contested. Notably, the CM's remarks on bandhs and blockades — while factually accurate — also implicitly acknowledge that the government has been unable to prevent them. The 'Viksit Bharat 2047' reference adds a nationalist frame but risks sounding aspirational in a state where inter-community trust has been severely fractured for over three years.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh say about the hill district unrest?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh acknowledged on 18 October 2026 that several hill districts in Manipur continue to experience unrest, and appealed to all communities to spread peace and harmony. He specifically urged Catholic Church leaders, teachers and students to take the peace message to violence-affected areas.
Where did Manipur CM make his peace appeal?
He made the appeal at the Catholic Valley Schools' Sports and Literary Meet at Catholic School, Canchipur, Imphal, held under the theme 'Together for a Peaceful Manipur.' Thirteen Catholic Valley Schools participated in the event.
How has the Manipur unrest affected students?
According to the Chief Minister, students have been among the worst affected by the ethnic conflict, with bandhs and blockades disrupting their academic activities. He warned that continued disruptions could adversely affect the future of Manipur's younger generation.
What is the background to the Manipur ethnic conflict?
Manipur has been gripped by ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands of displacements, and severe disruptions to normal life across hill and valley districts. The state has seen repeated curfews, internet shutdowns and cycles of violence in the period since.
What did the CM say about the 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision in the context of Manipur?
Chief Minister Khemchand Singh invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision to urge all communities in Manipur to work collectively towards a developed India, with Manipur contributing actively to national progress. He called on people to move beyond past incidents and embrace forgiveness and reconciliation.
