Manipur govt failed to maintain law and order: Ibobi

Imphal, Sep 17 (PTI) Manipur Congress president Okram Ibobi Singh on Thursday accused the state government of failing to exercise its constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order.

Speaking at a programme organised to welcome new members into the party, Singh said that though law and order is a state subject under the Constitution, the Manipur government failed to discharge its duties.

The three-time chief minister said that after violence broke out in May 2023, the Centre should have given the state government two or three months to contain the situation.

“When the state government failed to restore normalcy during the initial months, other means to restore peace should have been adopted,” Singh said, alleging that the Centre had also failed to make adequate efforts to bring the situation under control.

President’s rule was imposed in February 2025 following the resignation of then chief minister N Biren Singh amid prolonged ethnic violence in the state. It was subsequently lifted in February 2026 after a new government was formed.

Singh’s remarks came days after six people, including four women, were killed in separate incidents allegedly involving armed men in Tamenglong and Noney districts, in a fresh spate of violence in the state.

“There is no shame in both the state and central governments. Time has come to teach both a lesson as they have divided the communities in the state,” he said.

Former chief secretary O Nabakishore Singh was among those who joined the Congress at the programme. PTI COR MNB

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