Recent operation on Sinai Camp, designated camp of the Kuki National Army and Kuki Liberation Army has exposed allegations that armed cadres are involved in ongoing crisis.
Last week’s joint operation launched by the Quick Action Team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite CoBRA units, along with Manipur Police, on a designated camp of the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) located in Kangpokpi district, has exposed the long-standing allegations, made since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, that armed cadres from warring groups are involved in ongoing attacks on civilians. Manipur Police reported that 17 individuals impersonating cadres registered under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement were discovered at the Sinai Camp. The camp was intended to house 159 registered cadres, but only one registered individual was present during the operation. Police also seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition. This incident raises more questions than answers. Where are the missing cadres? Are they involved in the ongoing ethnic violence as claimed? Are armed groups under the SoO permitted to possess firearms and explosives? What took the state government so long to initiate such an operation? Was it a calculated move with a genuine intention to foster permanent peace in the state, or merely a response to public pressure after the recent victims’ bodies were left at the Chief Minister’s official residence? Will the government extend similar operations to other designated camps, or will this end with the Sinai raid? Will the government apply the same yardstick to all armed groups in the state, including those from the Meitei and Naga communities, if they are found to be engaging in violent activities? Is the government serious about addressing the underlying issues, particularly political underrepresentation and the disproportionate allocation of funds and developmental activities between the valley and the hill areas of the state? While these questions may cause discomfort, avoiding core issues will not bring about the peace that both those in power and the general public claim to be fighting for.
Initially, the central government failed to recognise the risk of the crisis escalating into a war of attrition, given the presence of more than a dozen armed groups from three major communities—Meiteis, Nagas, and Kukis—of the state. This fear came true when a minor brawl between individuals opened old wounds between the Naga and Kuki communities earlier this year, with many pointing to the involvement of armed groups. Reports of missing cadres from a designated camp of the KNA and KLA, both signatories to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) umbrella, suggest widespread breaches of ground rules. There are also allegations that Naga and Meitei armed groups that are under ceasefire agreements with the central government are involved in the conflict. Authorities must investigate these claims and take impartial action against all who violate SoO and ceasefire ground rules. The ongoing conflict could have been largely contained had the government taken such measures from the outset. It is not too late for the state to prevent a few warmongers from undermining peace efforts. The core issue remains that while ordinary citizens desire peace, underground groups do not.