For the time time, the state cabinet meeting with the chief minister N Biren Singh in the chair was held sans two Kuki cabinet ministers at the Mini Secretariate of the District Commissioner, Ukhul District on Wednesday. The Ukhrul district bordering Myanmar on the east is predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga communities.

During its meeting, the State cabinet also approved and handed over an order for setting up of Tolloi Police Station and Sub Divison Collector office at Paoyi village in the district.

The BJP-led government in Manipur headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh has 12 councils of Ministers. But in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, two Kuki ministers namely Nemcha Kipgen and Letpao Haokip skipped purportedly due to the ongoing communal violence that erupted on May 3. There are 10 Kuki MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly but all the Kuki MLAs are demanding separate administration in the state. They had also skipped the recently concluded budget session of the state assembly. Official sources said that Chief Minister N Biren Singh visited Ukhrul in a helicopter while ministers and ruling MLAs were using the land route to reach Ukhrul district headquarters which is about 82 km from Imphal.

Notably a cabinet meeting was earlier held in Kangpokpi and the government has planned to have a cabinet meeting in Chandel district headquarters. Chandel district of Manipur is also predominantly inhabited by the Kuku communities.