Guwahati: Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday directed security agencies to identify active armed groups suspected to be involved in the recent violence in Manipur, excluding those engaged in peace talks, and to submit a detailed report on their involvement at the earliest.He warned that groups found responsible for attacking civilians could be declared unlawful and face action under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).“Based on the findings of the report, the state cabinet would be constrained to declare such groups as unlawful if their involvement in violence against innocent civilians is established,” he said.
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“I also made it clear that necessary action would be initiated against any group continuing to perpetrate violence against the civilian population. Such groups would be dealt with under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),” he added.Khemchand issued these directives at a security review meeting to review the current law and order situation in the state in Imphal on Tuesday. He said the meeting also deliberated on measures to further strengthen security arrangements.The meeting was attended by home minister Govindas Konthoujam, chief secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur, security adviser Kuldiep Singh, DGP Mukesh Singh, GOC 3 Corps Lt General Girish Kalia via video conferencing, among other high-ranking officers of central security agencies and officials from the home department.About 35 hill and valley-based Meitei, Naga and Kuki underground outfits operate in Manipur. Of these, 25 Kuki groups have signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre and the state govt. The last term of the pact expired on Oct 3 and has not been renewed so far.Besides NSCN (IM), Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) signed a cessation of operations agreement on Dec 27, 2022. Among Meitei groups, only the Pambei faction of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has been in a peace process since 2023.Eight Meitei groups are banned in Manipur. All have been notified as unlawful associations, along with their factions, wings and front organisations. Several Kuki groups also remain outside the peace-process framework.
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