Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipur’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has hit a wall. Displaced families and tribal groups claim strict bureaucratic demands are blocking voters from the process. Officials now require a Permanent Residence Certificate from the Deputy Commissioner of the voter's original district. Travel remains impossible for many residents. Ethnic violence has gripped the state since May 3, 2023. Families cannot return home to secure paperwork.
This policy has already left 727 Meitei voters out of the Churachandpur draft roll. Language barriers further complicate the work. Booth Level Officers struggle to read records printed in the old Bengali script rather than the official Meitei Mayek. Verification efforts have stalled as a result.
The Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee of Pherzawl and Jiribam districts demands immediate changes. They want the Election Commission to guarantee a fair, transparent process. The conflict between Meitei, Kuki-Zo, and Hmar communities shows no signs of cooling. Thousands remain trapped in temporary shelters. The committee warned that the state must act with care. They stated, "The ethnic conflict between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo and Hmar communities remains unresolved despite government interventions."
Tribal leaders cautioned against open movement between hostile territories. Such travel invites new tensions. They will not take responsibility for clashes if outsiders enter tribal zones. Stakeholders must push for a credible, inclusive election update. A lasting resolution remains out of reach for now.
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