Manipur CM Khemchand Singh visits disarmed SoO camp, warns gun culture blocks lasting peace
Synopsis
In a first for any sitting Manipur Chief Minister, Yumnam Khemchand Singh walked into the freshly disarmed Sinai Camp — a SoO facility seized after 17 imposters and over 24 firearms were found — and delivered a pointed message: the state's future cannot be built on gun culture. The visit signals a direct political assertion of state authority over a peace framework that has been in place since 2008.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh made the first-ever visit by a sitting Chief Minister to a designated SoO camp on 25 October 2026 .
The Sinai Camp in Kangpokpi District was disarmed and seized by the CRPF , Manipur Police , and other agencies following the killing of three firewood collectors at Nongshum .
Security forces recovered more than 24 firearms , 38 magazines , ammunition, explosives, and communication equipment during the operation.
Only 17 individuals — impersonating registered SoO cadres with false identities — were found in a camp meant to house around 150 cadres .
A total of 23 underground outfits under UPF and KNO have been covered under the SoO arrangement since August 2008 .
The CM urged citizens to surrender illegal arms and appealed for a return to peace and harmony.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday, 25 October 2026, declared that the state cannot progress or achieve lasting peace as long as gun culture persists, making a historic first visit by a sitting Chief Minister to a designated camp under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement in Kangpokpi District. The visit came days after the Sinai Camp — a SoO-designated militant facility — was disarmed and taken over by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) following a joint security operation.
Why the CM Visited Sinai Camp
The Sinai Camp was the designated facility of the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), both covered under the SoO agreement signed with the Centre in August 2008. The camp was seized last week in a joint operation by the CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit of the CRPF, Manipur Police, and other security agencies.
The crackdown followed the killing of three innocent firewood collectors at Nongshum, in the joint jurisdiction of Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts. The operation revealed that only 17 individuals — found to be impersonating registered SoO cadres using false identities — were present in a camp designed to house approximately 150 cadres.
Weapons and Contraband Recovered
During the operation, security personnel recovered more than 24 firearms, 38 magazines, a large quantity of ammunition, explosives, wireless communication equipment, and other combat gear. The scale of the haul underscored official concerns that the SoO framework had been exploited by non-registered elements operating under false identities.
Chief Minister Khemchand Singh inspected the entire camp premises during his visit and was briefed by senior officers of the CRPF and Assam Rifles on the operations conducted and the prevailing law and order situation.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing security officers and personnel, Khemchand Singh commended the CRPF's CoBRA Battalion for its 'courage and valour,' particularly for its leading role in securing total control of the camp. He directed security personnel that their primary duty is to protect the lives and properties of civilians, stressing that 'due care must be taken to ensure innocent civilians are not affected by combing operations.'
The Chief Minister also appealed to the people of Manipur to shun violence, surrender illegal arms, and join hands in restoring peace and harmony. He was accompanied during the visit by government Spokesperson and Heirok constituency MLA Thokchom Radheshyam Singh.
Senior officers present included Inspector General of CRPF (Manipur and Nagaland Sector) Homkar Amol Vinukant, IG of Manipur Police Kamei Angam Romanus, DIG of Manipur Police N. Herojit Meetei, DIG of CRPF Rajesh Kumar, Colonel Radha Krishnan of Assam Rifles, the Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi district, and Superintendents of Police of Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts.
The Broader SoO Framework
A total of 23 underground outfits operating under two conglomerates — eight under the United People's Front (UPF) and 15 under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) — have been covered by the SoO arrangement with the Central Government since August 2008. Notably, this is the first time a sitting Chief Minister has visited any designated SoO camp, a signal analysts are likely to read as a political assertion of state authority over the peace framework.
The CM also interacted with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and villagers in the area. The visit marks a pivotal moment in Manipur's long-running effort to transition from armed conflict to negotiated peace, even as the state remains under the shadow of ethnic tensions and unresolved displacement.
Point of View
All operating under false identities, raises hard questions about how long the SoO framework has been exploited without detection. The seizure of 24-plus weapons from a designated peace camp is an indictment of the oversight mechanisms built into the 2008 agreement. Lasting peace in Manipur will require more than camp inspections — it demands a credible audit of who is actually under SoO cover and whether the arrangement is serving reconciliation or providing armed sanctuary.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Sinai Camp in Kangpokpi disarmed and seized?
The Sinai Camp was seized following a joint operation by the CRPF's CoBRA unit, Manipur Police, and other agencies in the aftermath of the killing of three innocent firewood collectors at Nongshum. The operation found only 17 individuals — impersonating registered SoO cadres — in a camp designated for about 150 cadres, and recovered more than 24 firearms along with ammunition and explosives.
What is the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement in Manipur?
The SoO is an agreement signed between the Central Government and 23 underground outfits in August 2008, under which militant groups suspend armed operations in exchange for designated camps and certain protections. The Sinai Camp housed cadres of the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), both covered under this arrangement.
Is this the first time a Manipur Chief Minister has visited a SoO camp?
Yes. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's visit to Sinai Camp on 25 October 2026 is the first-ever visit by a sitting Chief Minister to any designated SoO camp in Manipur, making it a historically significant moment in the state's engagement with the peace framework.
What did CM Khemchand Singh say about peace in Manipur?
Khemchand Singh stated that Manipur cannot make progress or achieve lasting peace as long as gun culture persists. He appealed to citizens to shun violence, surrender illegal arms, and work together to restore peace and harmony, while also directing security forces to protect civilians during operations.
Who are the organisations under the SoO arrangement in Manipur?
A total of 23 underground outfits are covered under the SoO arrangement — eight under the United People's Front (UPF) and 15 under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO). The arrangement has been in place with the Central Government since August 2008.
