'Let's forget the nightmares': New Manipur CM tells displaced Meitei-Hmar inmates in first visit since 2023

Guwahati: Nearly three years after the Meitei-Kuki conflict erupted in Manipur, newly appointed Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday visited two relief camps, one each of Meitei and Hmar community, urged them to forget the "nightmares" and move towards peace and development.

Although Khemchand, a two-time Meitei MLA, took charge as CM on February 4, this was the first visit by a Chief Minister to relief camps of both the communities since the conflict started on May 3, 2023.

"Let us consider that the last two years was a nightmare, let us forget it and have the courage to move forward towards peace and development,” Khemchand said to inmates of Hmar community taking shelter at Kalinagar in Jiribam district. Hmars belong to greater Kuki-Zo community. He then visited Jarolpokpi Hmar village, which had experienced largescale violence in 2023.

Photographs and videos showed the CM interacting with the children, aged persons and families of those killed in the violence. He was seen putting his hand around shoulder of a family member of a victim.

The CM first visited the relief camp housing Meitei displaced persons at Jiribam Higher Secondary School campus where he interacted with the inmates. He travelled via helicopter.

Jiribam, bordering Assam, had witnessed largecale violence in 2023 and November 2024. In the violence in November 2024, a woman teacher of Hmar community was burnt to death following which at least six Meiteis, including women and children were abducted and killed. At least 10 persons belonging to Hmar community were also killed by CRPF personnel allegedly in a gun fight. The forces said the 10 were armed militants who opened fire at the security forces and were killed in retaliation.

"I feel someone is trying to destroy the concept of Manipuri. First, we are Indian and then we are Manipuri. We can be Manipuri Naga, Manipuri Kuki and Manipuri Meitei. We need to rebuild the concept of Manipuri,” he said.

On December 8, Khemchand visited a Kuki hamlet at Litan Saraikhong in Naga-dominated Ukhrul district and interacted with the displaced persons.

Its beyond politics

Welcoming CM's initiative to rebuilding peace, Manipur unit of BJP said, "This visit goes beyond politics—it is a reaffirmation that every life matters, every pain is acknowledged, and healing must begin with humanity and dialogue. By reaching out in empathy to the affected community, the Chief Minister has taken a meaningful step towards rebuilding trust and restoring harmony."

Peace may not be built overnight, but through compassion, justice, and sincere engagement, a united and peaceful Manipur can emerge, BJP said in a social media post.