Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh Monday dismissed speculation about a review of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact — signed between the central government, Manipur government and Kuki insurgent groups — but added that the State will take “necessary legal action” against those housed in designated SoO camps found indulging in violence.
Addressing a press conference in Imphal, Singh said, “The government will take firm action against… those who are using illegal weapons inside the designated SoO camps… necessary legal action will be taken by the [Union] Home Ministry, along with the state government, against them.”
Signed in August 2008, SoO is a tripartite ceasefire pact to end hostilities and initiate a political dialogue mandating that security forces — both central and state — and 25 insurgent groups desist from launching any operations against each other. In March, the state government withdrew from the pact with two such tribal insurgent groups.
Singh, along with four of his cabinet ministers, was in Delhi Sunday evening to apprise Union home minister Amit Shah of the situation in Manipur following the ethnic violence that rocked the state on 3 and 4 May.
The Union home minister, he added, is trying to implement the ground rules of the “Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement” to ensure that cadres of Kuki insurgent groups that are signatories to the pact do not violate its provision and stay inside the designated camps.
However, in the aftermath of the ethnic clashes, the SoO camps — where overground insurgents are housed — came into the spotlight, with state government officials claiming that the cadres inside the camp had come out with their arms and indulged in violence.
Singh said that the Union home minister assured him that as per the rules of the agreement, a joint monitoring committee along with the Army and the state police inspected many camps to check for violations. There are reports of involvement of some illegally armed persons and the state government is looking into it, he added.
“It is true that we have got reports of involvement of armed persons, who are not supposed to be present in the SoO camps. It is only after that the Army started inspecting the SoO camps,” the CM said.
Shah also expressed concern over instances of violence in Manipur, Singh said.
“The home minister has said that his priority will be restoration of normalcy in the state of Manipur, irrespective of caste, religion or community. He is meeting everyone in Delhi and is also sending his emissary to Manipur to connect between the communities so that normalcy returns to the state at the earliest,” he said.
Asked about the 10 legislators — including seven BJP and two Kuki People’s Alliance MLAs — who in a letter on 12 May demanded separate administration for tribals in Manipur in the aftermath of the perceived targetting of Kukis, Singh said, “We have been living together and this will not change. The home minister has categorically told me to convey that the territorial integrity of Manipur will not be compromised.”
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)