Manipur CM visits designated camp of militants in Kangpokpi district

Guwahati: In a most significant and historic move, Manipur chief minister Y Khemchand Singh on Sunday visited Sinai Camp, a designated shelter for militants under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement in Kangpokpi district, according to an official statement.

The Sinai camp was recently disarmed and taken over by CRPF following joint operations by its CoBRA unit, Manipur Police and other security agencies in the aftermath of the recent killing of three firewood collectors near Nongshum in Imphal East district. During the operation, 17 individuals impersonating registered SoO cadres using false identities were found at the camp. The camp was supposed to house about 150 cadres.

After his arrival at the camp, the CM said that the state could not achieve lasting peace as long as "gun culture" persisted. While interacting with senior security officers, he maintained that due care must be taken to ensure that innocent civilians were not affected by combing operations.