New Delhi: In a major reshuffle of the state machinery amid the ethnic violence, the Manipur government on Thursday transferred 60 bureaucrats and 10 police officers with immediate effect.
The rejig comes as part of the government’s efforts to stabilise the administration and improve security amid the ethnic strife between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in the state, which has resulted in over 250 deaths, more than 1,000 injuries, and the displacement of over 60,000 people in the last 21 months.
The transfers, which include senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, are intended to address the unrest in the region and bring about a sense of stability in the state’s governance.
List of officers transferred in Manipur
Among the key changes, Paulunthang Vaiphei, Director General of the State Academy of Training, has been appointed as the Additional Chief Secretary, while Anurag Bajpai, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, will take on the role of Additional Chief Secretary for Textiles, Commerce, and Industries.
Arun Kumar Sinha, the Principal Secretary for Textiles, Commerce, and Industries, has been reassigned as Principal Secretary for the Agriculture, Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Department. Meanwhile, Devesh Deval, Commissioner-cum-Secretary for Tourism and Resident Commissioner at Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi, will now exclusively manage the Tourism Department.
The reshuffle also affects the police leadership. Rakesh Balwal, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Thoubal, has been appointed as the new SP for Imphal East. Anupam, the SP of Senapati, has been transferred as Joint Secretary in the Home Department.
Additionally, Shivanand Surve, the SP of Chandel, will now serve as SP for Senapati, while Shaikh Mohd Zaib Zakir, the SP of Churachandpur, has been posted as Senior SO to the Director General of Police.
The administrative reshuffle follows the appointment of Ajay Kumar Bhalla as the new Governor of Manipur on January 3 and the appointment of Prashant Kumar Singh as the Chief Secretary on January 15.
The government hopes that these changes will help restore stability in the region and improve the overall security situation.
The ethnic violence in Manipur, which erupted over 21 months ago, began when the Meitei community launched a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in opposition to demands for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has led to significant loss of life and property, causing widespread fear and disruption across the state.
