Reacting to ongoing ethnic turmoil in Manipur, the state administration is restructuring 70 important personnel including senior IAS, IPS, and Manipur Civil Service officers. Announced on Wednesday by Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, the action seeks to solve the administrative difficulties the current crisis presents.
Along with the reassignment of sixty bureaucrats, including top IAS officials, the reshuffle entails moves of ten IPS and Manipur police service officers. Among the major changes are the appointment of Senior IAS official Paulunthang Vaiphei as the Additional Chief Secretary and IPS officer Rakesh Balwal to the Imphal East district as the Superintendent of Police.
Following 21 months of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups, the rearrange results in over 250 deaths, more than 1,000 injuries, and over 60,000 people displaced. The violence started following a “Tribal Solidarity March” in opposition to the petition for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation by the Meitei people.
Following the January 3 appointment of Ajay Kumar Bhalla as the new Governor of Manipur and the January 15 appointment of Prashant Kumar Singh as Chief Secretary, this administrative modification also follows. Under continuous conflict, the government expects the reorganization will serve to stabilize the government and enhance security inside the state.
