Imphal, Sep 30 (PTI) A Hmar delegation from Manipur’s Pherzawl district met Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Wednesday and apprised him of the community’s grievances, an official statement said.
A member of the delegation said this was the first time that a Hmar delegation from the district met the chief minister of Manipur at Imphal in three years since the eruption of ethnic conflict in the state.
Tipaimukh MLA Ngursanglur Sanate, along with representatives of various civil society organisations from the district, called on the CM at his official residence here and briefed him on issues related to road connectivity, electricity and banking services, and sought his intervention for addressing the difficulties faced by the people, the statement said.
Pherzawl shares borders with Assam and Mizoram and is predominantly inhabited by the Hmar community.
The delegation sought the upgradation of the Jiribam-Tipaimukh Road, presently a district road, to a national highway.
They highlighted that the road would provide an important link between NH-37 and NH-102, thereby improving connectivity between Jiribam, Tipaimukh and adjoining areas.
Among the demands was the proposed power-line connection from Sipuikaun power station to Parbung and the need for extending power supply to other areas.
The delegation further apprised Singh of the need for establishment of a bank in the area, highlighting the difficulties faced by the people due to the absence of banking facilities.
Responding to the demands of the delegation, Singh said peace should be restored first, emphasising that normalcy and stability are essential for taking forward development and administrative processes.
He also assured the delegation that the issues raised by them would be looked into and necessary action taken.
A visiting delegate said, “Representatives of the Hmar community from Pherzawl district met the chief minister in Imphal for the first time in three years. We hope peace will prevail in Manipur. Hmars are a peace-loving people.”
At least 306 people have been killed, and 49 remained missing, while thousands were rendered homeless in ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023 between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis. The conflict had also spread to Jiribam district, and clashes had taken place between Hmars and Meiteis. PTI COR ACD
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