UKHRUL: The proposed visit of Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to Jiribam district from April 4 to 6 has drawn attention following concerns over a reported jurisdictional discrepancy in the official tour programme.
The Chief Minister is scheduled to depart from his official residence at Babupura on April 4 and arrive in Jiribam in the afternoon. The itinerary includes visits to the Leingangpokpi Police Outpost, Jiribam District Hospital at Ningshingkhul, and Lamlenkhul, followed by a halt at the Jiribam Police or PWD Guest House. A joint community meeting is also planned at New Alipur Naga Village.
On April 5, the Chief Minister is slated to lay the foundation stone for an inter-state truck terminus and other development projects at Chandrapur, Jiribam. He will then proceed to neighbouring Assam for campaign meetings at Rongpur in Silchar and later in Hailakandi district, before returning to Jiribam. The tour is scheduled to conclude on April 6 with his departure from Jiribam Helipad to Kangla Helipad.
However, ahead of the visit, multiple organisations and local authorities have raised objections regarding the inclusion of the Leingangpokpi Police Outpost in the itinerary. Representatives from Tatbung Village Authority, have asserted that the outpost is located within Tatbung village under the Tousem Sub-division of Tamenglong district, and not within Jiribam district as stated in the programme.
In a formal representation, the authority alleged that the current placement of the outpost reflects a longstanding administrative anomaly, stemming from earlier arrangements where policing responsibilities extended beyond district boundaries. They cautioned that the Chief Minister’s visit to the site, under the present classification, could exacerbate existing tensions and lead to misunderstandings among local communities.
Echoing similar concerns, the Tousem Area Students Organisation highlighted the issue as a “significant administrative discrepancy,” warning that misidentification of the outpost’s jurisdiction could create confusion, misrepresent official land records, and strain relations between Jiribam and Tamenglong districts. The organisation has urged the state government to rectify the tour programme and ensure administrative clarity.
Further support for these concerns came from the Joint Tribes Students’ Association (TSA). The association endorsed calls for reconsideration of the visit to the Leingangpokpi Police Outpost, citing the potential for heightened tensions due to the ongoing boundary dispute. It also backed proposals for either relocating the outpost to within Jiribam’s jurisdiction or arranging an alternative visit to police facilities in Tamenglong district, such as Tatbung or Phaitol.
Stakeholders have collectively appealed to the state government and the Chief Minister’s office to take urgent corrective measures, including revising the itinerary and considering the formation of a joint survey team to address the boundary issue between Jiribam and Tamenglong districts.
Despite the concerns raised, the tour remains significant as it combines administrative review, development initiatives, and political outreach across Manipur and neighbouring Assam. Authorities are expected to take a considered view to ensure the visit proceeds smoothly while maintaining peace and administrative integrity in the region.
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