Security forces in Manipur have taken full control of a camp that was designated under the long‑standing Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement for Kuki‑Zo groups after finding only a single registered cadre where 159 were listed, officials said on Saturday. The takeover of the Sinai camp in Kangpokpi district followed security operations launched after the killing of three Meitei civilians near Nongshum on 19 October.
What was found at the camp
Joint teams from the Manipur Police and the Central Armed Police Forces conducted the raid on Friday and secured the site on Saturday, a senior security official told PTI. Authorities said they found one registered cadre against an “expected strength of 159”, and detained 17 people who were not identified as cadres covered by the SoO agreement. The 17 have been remanded to police custody until 31 October, the police statement added.
“The raid was carried out on Friday and security forces took complete control of the camp on Saturday. The exercise will continue. All the designated camps will be audited to find out the ground reality,” a senior security official told PTI.
Manipur Police said they seized a significant quantity of arms and equipment from the camp, including 24 firearms, 38 magazines, a large quantity of ammunition, explosives, wireless communication equipment and other combat gear. Investigations are under way to probe allegations of impersonation, unauthorised arms possession and possible violations of SoO ground rules, the police said.
Why authorities are auditing camps
The discovery has prompted security authorities to announce an audit of all 14 designated SoO camps across Manipur to verify on‑ground compliance with the truce. The Suspension of Operations agreement, signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki‑Zo militant groups in August 2008, aimed to suspend hostilities to allow a negotiated political settlement; the pact expired on 4 September without renewal.
- One registered cadre present at Sinai camp where 159 were expected
- 17 non‑cadres arrested and remanded to police custody till 31 October
- 24 firearms and 38 magazines seized along with ammunition, explosives and radios
Officials offered preliminary explanations for the missing cadres, including that some had returned home, but the police statement did not confirm those claims. The arrests and seizures at Sinai are part of a wider security response after the Nongshum killings, which have intensified calls from Meitei organisations to close or relocate SoO camps and to re‑examine the truce.
Police said further investigation will examine the role of camp functionaries and any breaches of the SoO terms. The exercise to take stock of all designated sites and verify the presence and status of registered cadres is ongoing, according to the statement.
| Item | Figure reported |
|---|---|
| Registered cadres expected at Sinai | 159 |
| Registered cadres found | 1 |
| People detained (not identified as cadres) | 17 |
| Firearms seized | 24 |
| Magazines seized | 38 |
The police have remanded the 17 detainees and opened investigations into impersonation and possible unauthorised possession of weapons. The public statement said the security exercise will continue at Sinai and that all designated camps will be audited to “find out the ground reality.” Authorities did not provide names or unit details of arrested persons beyond the custody order.
Security officials emphasised the operation was part of law‑enforcement efforts after recent violence in the state and that follow‑up actions will be determined by the outcome of the audits and ongoing investigations.
