“Honestly, I do not buy the idea that peace has returned to Manipur”: MP Bimol Akoijam

Congress MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam on October 19 rejected claims that peace had returned to Manipur, saying a temporary decline in violence could not be equated with normalcy while people remained displaced and unable to return to their homes.

Akoijam made the remarks while speaking to the media at Raj Medicity Hospital in Imphal, where he visited people injured in the latest violent incident and enquired about their condition.

“Honestly speaking, I do not buy the idea that peace has returned. By any definition, peace is not merely the absence of violence,” he said.

Drawing a parallel with the medical definition of health, the MP said peace should not be measured solely by whether violence had subsided. It must also include the smooth functioning of institutions, the restoration of normal public life and people's ability to resume their lives without fear or disruption.

He pointed out that many people remained unable to return to their homes, questioning claims that normalcy had been restored in the state.

Akoijam said the scale of violence might have declined temporarily, but fresh incidents had emerged, with violence also extending to hill areas. He cautioned that criminal elements could exploit arrangements such as the suspension of operations.

The Congress MP said his position should not be viewed as a political stance but as a genuine effort to restore peace in Manipur.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh also visited Raj Medicity Hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured. He, however, declined to comment to the media during the visit.

Security tightened in Imphal

The developments came amid renewed tension following the latest violent incident. Protesters briefly placed the bodies of the deceased outside the Chief Minister's official bungalow before security personnel dispersed them by firing tear gas shells.

The bodies were subsequently taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) hospital.

Security was tightened across Imphal, with approach roads leading to the Chief Minister's official bungalow and Raj Bhavan cordoned off. Barricades were erected at Kangla Gate, Konung Mamang and Babupara as security forces restricted access to key areas of the state capital.

The latest developments have renewed concerns over the fragile security situation in Manipur, where the return of displaced residents and the restoration of normal life remain central challenges.