GUWAHATI: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday visited the Sinai designated camp of rebel outfits Kuki National Army (KNA) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) in Kangpokpi district, two days after it was disarmed and taken over by security forces.
KNA and KLA are among Kuki insurgent groups which are under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
A government statement said Singh inspected the camp premises and was briefed by officers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Assam Rifles about the operations conducted as well as the prevailing law and order situation in the area.
While interacting with senior security officers and personnel, the chief minister commended the CRPF’s CoBRA Battalion for its courage and valour, particularly for its role in leading the successful operation.
"The chief minister maintained that due care must be taken to ensure innocent civilians are not affected by combing operations," the statement said.
Singh said Manipur could not progress or achieve lasting peace as long as gun culture existed. He appealed to the people of the state to shun violence, surrender illegal arms and join hands towards restoring peace and harmony.
Later, Singh interacted with the leaders of civil society organisations and villagers of the area.
The Sinai camp was taken over by security forces following a joint operation that was carried out in the aftermath of the recent killing of three firewood collectors.
During the operation, 17 individuals impersonating registered SoO cadres using false identities were found in the camp. The camp was supposed to house around 150 cadres, the statement said.
According to ground rules, members of rebel groups that have signed ceasefire agreements must remain within their designated camps. This was the first instance of takeover of a camp of the SoO groups by security forces.
Umbrella bodies Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) had signed the tripartite SoO agreement with Manipur and central governments in August 2008. Twenty-five rebel outfits come under KNO and UPF.
Manipur home minister Govindas Konthoujam on Friday said the SoO agreement with Kuki armed groups had not been extended, indicating that the search and counter-insurgency operations by security forces against suspicious camps of armed groups would continue in accordance with the law. He further stated that the SoO agreement had lapsed early September this year.
