IMPHAL : Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Saturday said people desire an end to the prolonged crisis in the state.

Speaking at an event here, Singh said he was encouraged to see that Churachandpur district was no longer affected by the disruptions witnessed during the height of the crisis.

“Dialogue is the only way forward to restore lasting peace in the state,” he said.

Stressing that development cannot take place without peace, Singh said the people of Manipur desire an end to the prolonged crisis and wish to move forward together.

He, however, observed that a few individuals continue to benefit from the prevailing chaotic situation and therefore do not want peace to return.

Singh urged people not to allow people with such vested interests to derail the collective efforts towards restoring peace and ensuring the state’s progress and asserted that those disrupting peace will be identified and action taken against them.

The chief minister said the crisis has hit hard the state’s economy and government’s revenue collection.

He added that younger generations and poor people were the ones who suffered the most during the crisis and that students also faced a lot of hardship due to the unrest in the state.

Earlier in the day, the CM visited Churachandpur and attended the last rites of BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte, who died earlier this year after sustaining serious injuries in a mob attack in Imphal in 2023.

More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis in Manipur since May 2023. (Source: PTI)