Imphal/New Delhi, Oct. 25 -- Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Sunday appealed to people to surrender illegal weapons, saying lasting peace in the state was impossible as long as gun culture persisted, even as the Congress demanded his resignation, dissolution of the Assembly and immediate elections amid renewed violence.
Singh made the appeal during a visit to Sinai Camp, a designated camp under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement in Kangpokpi district, recently taken over by the CRPF following joint operations by its CoBRA unit, police and other security forces.
The operation followed the killing of three firewood collectors near Nongshum in Imphal East district. According to an official statement, 17 people allegedly impersonating SoO cadres using false identities were found at the camp, which was meant to accommodate around 150 cadres. The camp was designated for the Kuki National Army and Kuki Liberation Army, both signatories to the SoO agreement.
Describing it as the first visit by a sitting chief minister to a designated SoO camp, the statement said Singh inspected the premises and received briefings from CRPF and Assam Rifles officers on the operation and the law and order situation.
He commended the CRPF's CoBRA battalion but stressed that innocent civilians must not suffer during combing operations. Security personnel were deployed to protect people's lives and property, he said, urging people to renounce violence and work towards restoring peace and harmony. He later interacted with civil society representatives and villagers.
Meanwhile, Congress MP and party in-charge for Manipur Saptagiri Ulaka demanded immediate protection for civilians from all communities and time-bound investigations and prosecutions in cases of killings, firing, arson and destruction of property.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi alongside Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba, Ulaka said thousands protested across five districts on October 23 and marched towards Lok Bhavan, where police detained demonstrators and used lathis and tear gas.
He referred to the October 19 killing of three Meitei civilians collecting firewood and said their bodies were taken to the chief minister's residence as people sought justice. He also cited reports of Kuki and Naga civilian deaths in Kamjong.
"The entire state is burning, and both the Centre and state governments are responsible," Ulaka said.
He demanded strict enforcement and review of SoO ground rules, restoration of free movement across Manipur and a time-bound roadmap for peace, rehabilitation and the safe return of displaced people. He also urged the Union government to initiate an inclusive peace process and ensure accountability.
Lamba, who visited Manipur from October 1 to 4, accused the BJP government of failing to stop the violence or punish those responsible.
The ethnic conflict between the valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities, which began in May 2023, has claimed at least 306 lives, left 49 people missing and displaced thousands. Clashes involving Kuki and Naga communities have also been reported in recent months.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.