Sadar Hills Congress has urged newly appointed Kangpokpi Deputy Commissioner Hemant Kumar, IAS, to take urgent action on the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, highway restrictions and security concerns along the Kangpokpi-Senapati border. The demands were submitted in a representation to the new district administration on August 25.
The delegation was led by Sadar Hills District Congress Committee president Dr Lamtinthang Haokip. The committee said the administration must address these issues together because they affect relief, political representation, livelihoods, public movement and efforts to restore peace in Kangpokpi district.
Sadar Hills Congress seeks stronger IDP rehabilitation
A major concern raised by the committee was the situation of conflict-displaced families. It called for equal treatment of IDPs living in relief camps and those staying outside camps.
The committee said displaced families should have access to government welfare schemes and grievance redressal regardless of where they are currently residing. It also urged the administration to ensure that eligible conflict-displaced voters are not excluded from the ongoing SIR 2026 exercise.
The demand comes as IDP rehabilitation remains a major issue in Manipur. On August 24, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh met representatives of six groups of IDPs, who raised concerns about resettlement and other grievances. The Chief Minister assured them that the government was working on rehabilitation and resettlement.
The Sadar Hills Congress also asked the administration to defer the Census 2026-27 exercise until outstanding issues involving displaced families are addressed. It argued that adequate rehabilitation, participation and representation should be ensured before the census process moves forward.
SIR concerns remain a major issue
The committee’s concerns over the electoral revision follow an earlier district-level review of SIR in Kangpokpi. At a meeting on August 2, the SH-DCC highlighted difficulties faced by voters, village authorities and Booth Level Officers in collecting and uploading documents.
According to the review report, Kangpokpi had 99,849 eligible voters in the draft electoral roll and 57,025 discrepancies. These included 18,940 in Saikul Assembly Constituency, 14,457 in Kangpokpi Assembly Constituency and 23,628 in Saitu Assembly Constituency.
The committee had also raised concerns about orphaned applicants, IDPs and technical limitations in the BLO mobile application. Election officials assured political representatives that no eligible voter would be left out and said hearings on discrepancies had begun in Kangpokpi Assembly Constituency, with hearings for Saikul and Saitu to follow.
The Election Commission’s Manipur SIR guidelines state that the exercise aims to ensure that every eligible elector is enrolled while preventing ineligible names from being included. The official process also provides an opportunity for hearings and appeals when questions arise over eligibility.
Highway restrictions affect daily life
The Sadar Hills Congress also highlighted restrictions affecting the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway. It urged the administration to ensure that reopening the route results in uninterrupted movement of essential commodities and other daily necessities.
The committee said prolonged disruptions had affected daily-wage workers, traders, businessmen and shopkeepers. It claimed that supply interruptions had increased prices and placed additional pressure on livelihoods.
The issue has gained renewed importance after recent efforts to restore highway movement. The Chief Minister’s Secretariat said NH-2 had been opened to all communities and that public transport services along the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route had resumed smoothly. The government said improved highway access would help address several problems faced by IDPs and other residents.
The committee also specifically raised concerns affecting people in the Twilang area along the IT Road and in south-west Sadar Hills, including the Leimakhong-Tingkai belt. It asked the district administration to respond promptly to their grievances.
Call for dialogue and confidence building
Security concerns along the Kangpokpi-Senapati border were another key issue in the representation. The Sadar Hills Congress urged the administration to initiate confidence-building measures and encourage dialogue among stakeholders following recent incidents of violence and aggression.
The committee warned that continued insecurity could deepen fear and mistrust among civilians and make peace efforts more difficult. It said Congress was prepared to help facilitate dialogue and supported a political process based on peaceful negotiations and mutual respect.
It also called for legal proceedings connected with victims of the violence that began on May 3, 2023, to be pursued without discrimination or political interference. Transparency and accountability, it said, were essential for restoring public confidence in the justice process.
The committee proposed that the district administration convene a meeting involving political parties, civil society organisations and community leaders in Kangpokpi. Such a forum, it said, could help identify common concerns and develop practical solutions.
With IDP rehabilitation, electoral revision, highway access and border security continuing to affect residents, the Sadar Hills Congress has asked the new deputy commissioner to adopt a coordinated administrative approach. The appeal comes as Manipur works to restore movement, address displacement and rebuild trust across communities.
Sikkim Tourism wins major excellence award for sustainable travel