Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh calls for collective efforts to bridge the trust deficit among communities, strengthen dialogue and restore lasting peace in the state.
Imphal, August 28: Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday called for sustained and collective efforts by all sections of society to bridge the prevailing trust deficit between communities and restore lasting peace in Manipur.
He was speaking at a guest lecture on “Manipur Situation: Prevailing Trust Deficit and the Path Towards Trust Building”, organised by the Assam Rifles at the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) Auditorium in Palace Compound, Imphal.
The lecture was delivered by author and journalist Sudeep Chakravarti.
Recalling the situation before May 3, 2023, Khemchand said he had regularly travelled to the hill areas and witnessed an atmosphere of peace, harmony and cooperation among different communities. The violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, he noted, fundamentally altered the situation in the state.
The Chief Minister maintained that the trust deficit could not be addressed through discussions or rhetoric alone. Sustained interaction, dialogue and greater understanding among communities would be necessary to rebuild confidence, he stated.
Khemchand identified restoration of peace as the foremost priority of his government and stated that the government would not compromise on the objective. He also assured that justice would be delivered to victims of the violence.
Honoured to graced a guest lecture on “Manipur Situation: Prevailing Trust Deficit and the Path Towards Trust Building” by author and journalist Sudeep Chakravarti hosted by Assam Rifles today at MSFDS Auditorium, Palace Compound, Imphal alongside Director General Assam Rifles Lt… pic.twitter.com/7Cf4lshqTy
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) August 28, 2026
Referring to his visits to relief camps and hill districts, the Chief Minister said he had interacted with people from different communities and found that their common desire was to live peacefully and return to their respective homes.
He cited his visits to Jiribam as an example, stating that people from the Meitei, Kuki, Hmar and Paite communities had come together and shared meals. According to him, such instances demonstrated that ordinary people continue to seek peace and harmonious coexistence.
Khemchand expressed concern that continuing incidents of violence were undermining efforts to restore peace. He called for individuals and groups attempting to spread hatred and conflict to be identified, while stressing that the situation should not be viewed simply as a conflict between communities.
He also acknowledged the role played by the State Police, Assam Rifles and other security forces in protecting lives during the crisis. He noted that members of different communities had also assisted one another in saving lives during the difficult period.
According to the Chief Minister, Assam Rifles and other security forces helped evacuate around 47,000 people to safer locations during the conflict.
He appealed to communities, civil society organisations, political leaders and other stakeholders to work collectively to address the trust deficit and create conditions for peace in the state.
Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General of Assam Rifles, stated that the force had always considered itself a friend of the people of the Northeast and that contributing to peace and stability in Manipur remained an important responsibility. He emphasised that the trust deficit could not be addressed by security forces alone and required sustained participation from communities and other stakeholders.
The seminar brought together nearly 400 participants from the security forces, academia, bureaucracy and student bodies, according to the Assam Rifles.
A panel discussion moderated by Lt Gen K.H. Singh (Retd.) examined measures including multi-stakeholder peace committees, disarmament, rehabilitation of displaced people and policing reforms aimed at ensuring ethnic neutrality.
The Assam Rifles said the seminar was organised under its Memorandum of Understanding with Manipur University and was intended to provide a platform for dialogue, trust building and civil-military engagement.
The event was attended by Chief Secretary Dr Puneet Kumar Goel, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Lt Gen (Retd.) K. Himalay Singh, Manipur University Vice Chancellor, Sudeep Chakravarti, retired IAS officer R.K. Nimai, retired IPS officer Thangjam Brojen Singh, senior journalist Pradip Phanjoubam and other senior officers and dignitaries.
