Fresh concerns over the safety of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have emerged after reports of a coordinated attack on families who were recently resettled, prompting sharp criticism from Congress MP A. Bimol Akoijam.
Speaking on the issue, Akoijam said the incident was “deeply disturbing” and pointed to serious gaps in the government’s handling of security on the ground. According to him, the attack suggests that armed elements continue to operate freely, despite repeated claims that disarming operations have been carried out.
“There was a coordinated attack on recently resettled internally displaced persons, which is deeply disturbing. It indicates that the disarming of armed elements has not been properly carried out, and the government must take appropriate action. I raised this issue in Parliament and will continue to do so,” the Congress MP said. 
The issue gained further attention on December 17 after the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) released a strong statement on the Torbung incident in Manipur’s Bishnupur–Churachandpur area. The council blamed what it called “irresponsible” administrative decisions for worsening an already fragile situation.
In its press release, the KZC recalled that Torbung, located in Churachandpur district, was one of the earliest flashpoints of the ethnic violence that broke out on May 3, 2023. The area is considered highly sensitive, as it was once inhabited by both Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities before large-scale displacement took place.
The council stated that Torbung witnessed some of the most violent incidents during the initial days of the unrest. It claimed that the first killing of the conflict occurred there, where Pastor Sekhikhohao Kipgen was allegedly beaten to death in public. According to the KZC, at least 45 Kuki-Zo people were killed in the first two days of violence.
Against this background, the council criticised the decision of the Bishnupur Deputy Commissioner to flag off the resettlement of Meitei IDPs in the Torbung buffer zone. The move was described as “deeply irresponsible,” with the council warning that it could trigger fresh tensions in an area that remains volatile.
The KZC said a more cautious and sensitive approach was needed and argued that resettlement in the buffer zone risks renewed confrontation. It also referred to earlier attempts by Meitei IDPs to enter the Torbung buffer zone during the Sangai Festival, claiming these incidents showed a pattern that could provoke unrest.
