The chairman and members of the Commission of Inquiry (Manipur Violence), 2023, which is investigating the Meitei-Kuki ethnic conflict, are on a three-day visit to the state starting May 29. The commission was originally constituted on June 4, 2023, and the Centre recently extended its tenure, pushing the deadline for submitting the report to November 20.
Commission Team and Meetings
The team is led by Justice (retd.) B.S. Chauhan and includes retired IAS officer Himanshu Sekhar Das and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar. On Saturday morning, the team met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and briefed him about their visit. During their stay, they inspected relief camps for internally displaced persons in Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Imphal West, and Imphal East districts.
Mandate and Background
The commission was constituted by the Centre in June 2023 under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, to probe the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023. Its mandate includes examining the causes of the unrest, the sequence of events, and whether there were lapses in administrative response. It is also tasked with recommending measures to prevent recurrence and restore lasting peace. Initially chaired by Justice (retd.) Ajai Lamba, the commission later came under the leadership of Justice B.S. Chauhan.
Ongoing Investigations
The commission has been holding hearings, collecting testimonies, and visiting affected districts since its formation. This three-day visit aims to further assess the ground situation and gather additional evidence.
