Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh's Pioneering Visit to Jiribam Amidst Manipur's Turmoil
Chief Minister's Historic Journey
The Chief Minister, accompanied by BJP state president A. Sharda Devi and a team of eight MLAs, embarked on a three-day visit
Imphal, Apr 4: In a significant move to restore peace in conflict-affected Manipur, Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh undertook a journey to Jiribam district via National Highway-37 on Saturday. This marks the first time a sitting Chief Minister has traveled this route since the ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.
Accompanied by BJP state president A. Sharda Devi and a group of eight MLAs, the Chief Minister's three-day visit aims to bolster confidence-building initiatives and address the concerns of local communities in this sensitive border area, situated approximately 217 km from Imphal.
The MLAs joining the Chief Minister on this trip include Tongbram Robindro, K. Robindro, Sapam Ranjan, H. Dingo, L. Rameshwar, S. Kunjakeshwor (Keba), S. Premchandra, Ashab Uddin, and Noor Hussain.
Also part of the delegation are senior officials, including the Commissioner (Home) and the Chief Engineer of PWD.
The journey traverses through the Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district, adding further importance to this visit.
During this visit, the Chief Minister is expected to engage with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and meet local leaders to evaluate the current situation and tackle urgent issues.
This outreach is viewed as part of a larger strategy by the state government to restore trust in areas affected by violence.
It is worth noting that a similar attempt by former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to visit Jiribam via NH-37 in June 2024 was thwarted when suspected militants attacked his advance security convoy near Kotlen in Kangpokpi district, resulting in injuries to security personnel.
In light of this history, Saturday's road trip highlights a deliberate effort by the government to reaffirm its administrative presence and rebuild trust along vital transit routes, while demonstrating its commitment to peace and stability in the region.