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#Manipur : Road Towards Normalcy , Government Constitutes District-level Peace Committees In All 16 Districts In View Of Law And Order Situation
Each 11-member committee will be headed by the respective District Magistrate and will include the Superintendent of Police, Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs), Sub-Deputy Collectors (SDCs) and district-level officers of relevant departments.
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The Manipur government has constituted committees in all 16 districts to promote peace-building efforts through sustained dialogue, community engagement and confidence-building measures, according to an official order.
The order, issued by the home department on October 30 and shared with the media , said the decision was taken in view of the prevailing law and order situation.
“In view of the prevailing law and order situation in the State, and with a view to strengthening peace-building efforts through sustained dialogue, community engagement and confidence-building measures, the Governor of Manipur is pleased to order the constitution of District Level Peace Committees in all districts of the state under the chairmanship of the respective District Magistrates,” it said.
Each 11-member committee will be headed by the respective District Magistrate and will include the Superintendent of Police, Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs), Sub-Deputy Collectors (SDCs) and district-level officers of relevant departments.
Representatives of different communities residing in the district, including community leaders, civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local media and journalists, as well as retired government officers and employees, will also be members of the committees.
“The committees shall serve as platforms for continuous engagement with community leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to promote mutual understanding, address grievances, prevent escalation of tensions and facilitate restoration of peace and normalcy,” the order said.
The committees will maintain regular contact with community leaders, CSOs, NGOs and the general public to discuss peace-building initiatives, identify concerns and promote mutual trust and understanding.
They will also recommend and facilitate appropriate confidence-building measures to restore trust between communities and promote inter-district dialogue, particularly in areas affected by tension or conflict, to resolve misunderstandings and prevent further escalation.
The committees will identify emerging tensions, grievances, rumours and other potential triggers of conflict and promptly bring them to the notice of the district administration for preventive action.
They will also suggest measures to ensure the safe movement of people, restoration of essential services, resumption of normal socio-economic activities and other initiatives conducive to restoring normalcy, wherever feasible.
The committees will coordinate with police, district administration and other agencies for timely action on issues affecting peace and security, while ensuring that all measures remain within the framework of law.
Meanwhile, At least three insurgents were killed and two others injured in a gunfight between rival militant groups in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday, officials said.
A heavy exchange of fire broke out around 4 am at Taodaijang village in Khoupum area, involving cadres suspected to belong to different Naga militant outfits, including the Zeliangrong United Front (Jenchui) and its rivals, they said.
The bodies of the three men were recovered by locals.
ZUF (Jenchui) claimed that two of the deceased belonged to the outfit and identified them as M Thaimei and G Kamson.
The outfit alleged that the gunfight involved the NSCN (IM), ZUF (Kamson faction) and NSCN-K (Niki Sumi). The third deceased was identified as Aihung Khumba, a resident of Pungmon Chingchen village. His affiliation was not immediately known.
Following the incident, locals, led by women, went to the spot in an attempt to prevent further violence between the rival groups. They also used a public address system to appeal to the cadres to stop firing, officials said.