New Delhi: The Centre has named Puneet Kumar Goel, a 1991 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, as the new chief secretary of Manipur, replacing Prashant Kumar Singh, a 1993 batch Manipur cadre IAS officer, who was appointed to the top post just six months ago.
Goel is the fourth IAS officer to be appointed the chief secretary of Manipur since May 2023, when ethnic conflict broke out in the state between the non-tribal Meiteis and the tribal Kuki-Zo communities, claiming over 260 lives and displacing 60,000 people.
The move to recall Singh to the Centre has raised eyebrows in bureaucratic circles as he was considered close to Manipur Governor A.K. Bhalla. During his short stint in Manipur, he had ensured coordination between different government agencies and worked with the security establishment to improve the law and order situation.
Singh has been appointed Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, in place of Goel, who was holding the charge before being sent to Manipur. The latter has also served as chief secretary of Goa.
Goel’s appointment comes at a time when the Centre is engaged in talks with political and civil society groups in the state to restore normalcy and install a popular government. The Centre had imposed President’s Rule in Manipur in February, four days after N. Biren Singh resigned as chief minister.
But the assembly, where the BJP continues to be in majority, was kept in suspended animation. There have been vociferous demands from the BJP MLAs for installation of a government for a while now but with the party a divided house, the Centre is not too confident if it’s the right time to stake claim.
Though no large-scale violence has been reported in the state since the imposition of President’s Rule, the situation continues to be fragile. The ethnic conflict has led to a complete segregation of the two ethnic communities in the state. The non-tribal Meiteis fled from the hills and returned to the Valley while the tribal Kukis moved to the hill districts.
Even the two national highways—NH 2 and NH 37—that were closed since the ethnic violence erupted in May 2023 continue to remain out of bounds.
Prior to Prashant Kumar, another Manipur cadre IAS Vineet Joshi was the chief secretary. Joshi was called back after a year-and-a-half as chief secretary and appointed higher education secretary.
Joshi was sent to the state just days after violent clashes began in May 2023. He had replaced the then chief secretary, Rajesh Kumar.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Manipur: 10 suspected Kuki militants killed, ‘war-like’ ammo stockpile seized in Assam Rifles op