Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Biren Singh Says Manipur Needs State-Led Security Response
Manipur has been affected by a long and complicated conflict involving several communities.
Former chief minister N. Biren Singh says local police should lead efforts to restore order, while central forces help them.
He believes local officers are better able to understand the languages and differences among people in the state.
Singh also wants armed groups dealt with and illegal weapons removed before displaced families return to normal life.
He says a National Register of Citizens should help identify people he considers illegal immigrants.
He says he was talking about people who came from Myanmar or Bangladesh, not all Kukis.
The article also reports that more than 60,000 people have been displaced.
Singh criticized current state leadership and said government work was not being communicated effectively to the public.
Former chief minister N. Biren Singh said Manipur’s complex conflict should be led by state police, with central forces in support.
Singh said outside forces may struggle to distinguish communities and identify people because they do not know local languages.
He proposed keeping armed groups covered by Suspension of Operations agreements in their camps, identifying other armed cadres, and conducting operations against illegal weapons.
Singh said rehabilitation of more than 60,000 displaced people should follow security operations, and called for an NRC exercise to identify and deport illegal immigrants.
He rejected claims that he targeted all Kukis, saying his remarks about illegal immigration referred to people who came from Myanmar or Bangladesh.
- Who
- Former Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh discussed the conflict and proposed responses.
- What
- He called for state police to lead security efforts, backed by central forces, and proposed operations against armed cadres and an NRC exercise.
- When
- In an interview published Wednesday; the article says the conflict began in May 2023.
- Where
- Manipur, India.
- Why
- Singh described the conflict as complex and said local forces understand the state’s languages and communities better.
Biren Singh’s account
Criticism and reported concerns
Who should lead security efforts
Biren Singh’s account
Singh said state police should lead in both the valley and hills, with central forces in a supporting role.
Criticism and reported concerns
Singh said he did not see the current state leadership as having the vision needed to implement that approach; the article does not provide a response from the state government.
Claims of anti-Kuki actions
Biren Singh’s account
Singh denied calling all Kukis illegal immigrants and said he meant people who entered from Myanmar or Bangladesh.
Criticism and reported concerns
The article notes accusations that Singh was anti-Kuki and evicted Kukis from land in the hills; Singh called those claims misinterpretations.
NRC before Census
Biren Singh’s account
Singh argued an NRC should identify and deport illegal immigrants and said it could help bring peace.
Criticism and reported concerns
The article reports protests by Meiteis and Nagas calling for an NRC update before the Census, which the Centre postponed in Manipur.
- People displaced
- More than 60,000, according to the article.
- Conflict began
- May 2023, according to the article.
- Singh’s security proposal
- State police lead, with central forces supporting them.
- Proposed next steps
- Address armed cadres and illegal weapons before beginning rehabilitation of internally displaced people.
- NRC proposal
- Singh called for an NRC exercise to identify and deport people he describes as illegal immigrants.
- Leadership change
- Yumnam Khemchand Singh became chief minister in February, after a year of President’s Rule following Biren Singh’s resignation in February 2025.
- Border measures cited
- Singh said 60–70 km of border fencing had been completed and that the remaining work was expected within three years.