Manipur CM visits seized SoO camp

IMPHAL, Oct 25 (NPN): Lasting peace cannot be achieved through gun culture, said Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh who inspected a designated camp of the Kuki militants under SoO which was recently taken over by the security forces on Sunday.
“Manipur cannot progress with gun culture; I urge all to shun violence, lay down arms and embrace peace,’ the chief minister wrote, in a post of his social media handles after the visit.
Known as Sinai camp, the SoO which was meant for housing cadres of Kuki National Army (KNA) and the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), both signatories of the suspension of operation (SoO) agreement was recently taken over by the CoBRA unit of the CRPF.
The taking over of the camp followed a recent joint operation by the CoBRA unit of CRPF, Manipur police, Assam Rifles and other security agencies in the aftermath of recent killing of three innocent firewood collectors at Nongshum in Imphal East district.
During the operation, 17 individuals impersonating registered SoO cadres using false identities were only found in the camp. The camp was supposed to house about 159 cadres of KNA and KLA. The police have arrested the 17 alleged fake SoO cadres and taken eight day custody on Saturday after producing in a local court. Sunday’s visit was the first ever visit by a sitting chief minister to a designated camp under the SoO effective since August 2008.
Asserting that his visit followed the tragic killing of three innocent firewood collectors at Nongshum in Imphal East district, the chief minister, in a post of his social media handles, wrote “It is a decisive step towards addressing law and order challenges and ensuring lasting peace.”
He has directed security agencies that innocent civilians must not be affected by combing operations, Singh further stated.
The chief minister was accompanied by government spokesperson and MLA Th Radheshyam during the visit which the Chief Minister’s Secretariat described as “most significant and historic move,” in a statement.
Upon his arrival at Sinai, Singh inspected the entire camp premises and was briefed by officers of the CRPF and Assam Rifles on the operations conducted and the prevailing law and order situation in the area.
While interacting with senior security officers and personnel, Singh commended the CRPF’s CoBRA Battalion for its courage and valour, particularly for its leading role in the successful operation that led to total control of the camp.
He maintained that due care must be taken to ensure innocent civilians were not affected by combing operations.
He directed the security personnel that “we are here to protect the lives and properties of the people.”
He stated that Manipur cannot progress or achieve lasting peace as long as a gun culture exists and appealed to the people of the state to shun violence, surrender illegal arms and join hands towards restoring peace and harmony in the state.
During his brief stay in the camp, the chief ministers also interacted with leaders and representatives of the many CSOs and villagers of the area.
IG, CRPF (Manipur and Nagaland) Sector Homkar Amol Vinukant, IG of Manipur police Kamei Angam Romanus, state police DIG N Herojit Meetei, DIG of CRPF Rajesh Kumar, Colonel Radha Krishnan of Assam Rifles, deputy commissioner of Kangpokpi district, SPs of Kangpokpi and Imphal East and other senior officers of other security agencies were also present during the visit.
The chief minister’s visit to a designated camp of a SoO group came amid demand for abrogation of the SoO agreement from various Meitei and Naga based CSOs with strong allegations of violating the ground rules.