Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday, 20 October met leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Babupara, Imphal, to review the law and order situation following the killing of three civilians by suspected militants in Kangpokpi district. The meeting, attended by senior opposition figures including former Chief Minister and State Congress President Okram Ibobi Singh, comes amid mounting pressure on the government to convene an all-party meeting and restore peace in violence-hit Manipur.

How the civilians were killed

The three victims — described as firewood collectors — were shot dead by suspected militants at Khongban Sunurok in Kangpokpi district, near Nongshum in Imphal East district, on Monday. Several others were reportedly injured in the same incident. The attack is the latest in a series of civilian killings that have continued to destabilise the northeastern state, with violence involving members of the Naga, Kuki, and Meitei communities recurring over an extended period.

What the Chief Minister said

In a social media post following the meeting, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh described the session as a review of the overall security situation after what he called the 'tragic killing of three innocent civilians by armed miscreants.' He said he had listened carefully to the concerns raised by political representatives and assured them the matter would be looked into. Singh added that the meeting also included 'constructive discussions on maintaining peace and making collective efforts to restore normalcy in the state.'

Opposition challenges government's moral authority

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, veteran Congress leader Ibobi Singh questioned whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government retained the moral authority to remain in office amid recurring civilian killings. 'The INDIA bloc representatives met the Chief Minister to discuss the prevailing law and order situation, which has deteriorated rapidly,' he said. Ibobi Singh alleged that the law and order machinery had 'completely failed' and asked how long citizens could tolerate the violence. 'How long can we tolerate this? Day by day, people are killing each other,' he said.

The former Chief Minister also questioned the government's repeated failure to convene an all-party meeting despite sustained demands. He said the INDIA bloc was prepared to approach the Centre for direct assistance if the state government acknowledged it could not contain the crisis on its own, and accused the Centre of acting as a 'silent spectator' amid continuing bloodshed.

Assam Rifles and broader security concerns

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh, who also attended the meeting, said the INDIA bloc delegation raised serious concerns about the role and functioning of the Assam Rifles in Manipur. The delegation included representatives of the CPI-M, CPI, RSP, All India Forward Bloc, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, among others. Also present were Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and MLA Okram Surjakumar. 'The delegation expressed deep concern over the recurring loss of innocent lives and urged the state government to take immediate, decisive and effective measures to stop the violence, protect civilians, ensure accountability, and restore peace and normalcy in the state,' Keisham Meghachandra Singh said.

What happens next

The INDIA bloc's demand for an all-party meeting remains unmet, and opposition leaders have warned they cannot remain silent over the government's handling of the crisis. With civilian casualties mounting and inter-community violence showing no sign of abating, pressure on both the state government and the Centre is set to intensify in the coming days.