Imphal: The Seventh Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced on Thursday with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla addressing the inaugural sitting. In his address, the Governor lauded the people of Manipur for their resilience, patience, and unwavering commitment to peace amid challenging times. He emphasized that the road ahead demands understanding, cooperation, and collective effort to restore harmony and ensure shared prosperity in the state.
Highlighting the initiatives undertaken by the Government to overcome the ongoing crisis, Governor Bhalla underscored that the maintenance of law and order remains the foremost priority. He noted that coordinated efforts between the Central and State Governments, security forces, civil administration, and community institutions have helped Manipur steadily move towards peace and stability. Intelligence-led operations, area domination, and coordinated cordon-and-search drives across vulnerable districts have resulted in a marked improvement in the overall security situation.
The Governor said a unified security architecture has been strengthened through regular coordination at Unified Headquarters and district levels. As many as 272 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, supported by the State Police, Assam Rifles, and Army units, have been deployed to secure sensitive areas, vital installations, highways, and farming zones. Joint Mobile Teams, Special Operation Groups, and Anti-Extortion Units have also been established across districts to curb criminal activities and restore public confidence.
Emphasising arms recovery as a key pillar of restoring normalcy, Governor Bhalla informed the House that 7,313 arms, 83,512 rounds of ammunition, and 5,195 explosives have been recovered so far. He added that the voluntary surrender of 1,078 arms during early 2025 reflects growing public trust in the peace process. Additionally, 549 offensive bunkers across hill and valley areas have been dismantled, significantly reducing violence.
To combat extortion, described as a major impediment to economic recovery, State- and district-level Anti-Extortion Units along with a 24×7 helpline were established, leading to over 924 arrests. Security forces have also intensified enforcement actions through arrests, preventive measures, and recoveries linked to unlawful activities.
The Governor highlighted comprehensive humanitarian measures implemented with Central Government support. Direct Benefit Transfer to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has been provided since 1 November 2025, replacing in-kind ration distribution to enhance dignity and choice. Phased resettlement has begun under the ₹523-crore Resettlement and Rehabilitation Package, including top-up assistance of ₹1.70 lakh per house for 7,000 PMAY-G beneficiaries. First instalments have been released to 6,300 families, with construction underway in most cases. Assistance has also been sanctioned for over 2,200 partially damaged houses, while families with fully damaged houses have received immediate relief linked to verified return and resettlement.
Resettlement efforts are being closely monitored by a State-level Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary and District-level Committees under Deputy Commissioners. Alongside housing, support has been extended in livelihoods, health, education, and employment. More than 430 youths have received skill training, livelihood assistance has reached thousands of families, health cards issued to nearly 10,000 IDPs, educational support provided to about 7,000 students, and employment opportunities extended through special MGNREGS job cards.
The Government, the Governor said, will continue phased resettlement with enhanced security, extend financial assistance for another year in view of livelihood constraints, rebuild community assets, and facilitate supervised visits to original villages. The State aims to resettle over 10,000 IDP households—comprising more than 40,000 individuals—by March 2026.
Addressing the issue of drugs, Governor Bhalla reiterated the Government’s zero-tolerance policy. Over the past three years, more than 3,841.3 acres of illicit poppy cultivation have been destroyed across multiple districts, along with significant seizures of narcotics and pharmaceutical drugs. Financial investigations have led to asset freezing, while demand-reduction and rehabilitation measures were pursued under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
Modernisation of policing has also progressed, with the Cyber Crime Helpline becoming fully operational, establishment of a Cyber Forensic Division, and expansion of CCTV surveillance to 33 remote locations. The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved ₹196.61 crore for security, mobility, forensic equipment, and smart policing initiatives. Police infrastructure development continued with over ₹54 crore sanctioned for construction and renovation of police buildings, barracks, quarters, and peace camps. Sixteen major projects were approved under SASCI, alongside the inauguration of the new Police Headquarters at Mantripukhri and the Police Museum in Imphal.
During 2025–26, significant investments were made in fire and emergency services, including procurement of rescue equipment, training of over 63,000 personnel and volunteers, and conduct of more than 1,500 mock drills. During recent floods, timely response ensured the rescue of over 1,000 people and animals.
To meet the requirements of new criminal laws, the Directorate of Forensic Sciences was strengthened with mobile forensic vans, advanced laboratories, DNA analysis facilities, cyber forensic units, and enhanced manpower. As a result, 90% of narcotics cases and 96% of long-pending crime scene investigation cases have been disposed of.
The Governor also informed the House that the translation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 into the Manipuri language has been completed and authorised by the President under the Authoritative Texts (Central Laws) Act, 1973.
Several measures were taken to strengthen the justice delivery system, including the establishment of Special NIA Courts, the Directorate of Prosecution with functional district offices, and new District and Sessions Courts at Kakching and Chandel. Judicial infrastructure projects at Mao, Churachandpur, Imphal East, and Lamphel were also highlighted.
Governor Bhalla further outlined achievements across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, power, water resources, urban and rural development, social welfare, employment, tourism, sports, culture, disaster management, information technology, and science and technology.
Concluding his address, the Governor expressed confidence that the New Year would renew the collective resolve to uphold Manipur’s age-old traditions of coexistence, unity, and harmony, and sought the wholehearted cooperation of the House for a productive year ahead.
Later, Minister Govindas Konthoujam moved the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, seconded by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho. The Business Advisory Committee Report, 2026 was tabled thereafter. Chief Minister and Leader of the House, Y. Khemchand Singh, moved the Motion of Confidence, which was passed following participation by Leader of the Opposition Okram Ibobi Singh and other MLAs.
The Seventh Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die by Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh.
