70 weapons belonging to Kuki SoO burnt down during violence in Manipur: Sources

The demand for abrogation of the SoO agreement has escalated since May 3rd with the valley-based CSOs and even politicians calling for scrapping the agreement

Around 70 weapons belonging to Kuki rebels under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) are reportedly burnt during violence in Manipur that began on May 3.

High placed security sources while stating this did not divulge details as to which rebel groups under SoO the supposedly burnt weapons belonged.

The revelation comes at a time when suspected SoO cadres are being accused by groups in the valley of being behind the incidents of violence taking place in the foothills or the periphery between the Hill and the valley.

Incidentally, the demand for abrogation of the SoO agreement has escalated since May 3rd with the valley-based CSOs and even politicians calling for scrapping the agreement.

Meanwhile, security sources said there is an average attendance of 58% in the 14 SOO camps in the Kuki-dominated areas of Manipur.

These camps are spread across Kuki-inhabited areas including Mt Senai, Harmon, Khambarol, Mongbung, S Nabil, New Phaisat, Chongkhazou, Phaibhathang, New Taikot, Songtal, Nathejang, Thingsat, T/Gamnoum & Ankhasoo.

As per security sources, following government instructions of enforcing the Suspension of Operations provisions, an inspection was undertaken jointly by the State Police Forces and Assam Rifles in quick succession since May to compel the cadres to ensure attendance in the camps.

The last such surprise check was undertaken on June 3rd, during which the overall attendance in the 14 camps was found to be 58 %. Out of these, 2 camps registered more than 80% attendance, 8 camps had attendance between 50 – 80 % while 4 camps had below 50% attendance.

Significantly, security sources also claim that only two weapons are missing from the camps while the remaining are found intact.

Well the figures clearly imply that around 40% SOO cadres are missing from the camps. However, highly placed security sources told Northeast Live that the attendance in SOO camps even prior to the May 3rd violence has been between 60 to 70% and hence there is no abnormality as far as the presence of cadres in the designated camps is concerned. The sources said that there are several instances of SOO cadres staying in their respective homes, while some may have died due to natural causes.

This brings us to some big questions. Despite the figures quoted above, are some of the missing SOO cadres engaged in the gun fights?

Or, If the SOO cadres are in their designated camps then who are the mystery gun-yielding men allegedly raiding villages and resorting to arson which is being constantly talked about by valley-based groups and CSOs?

Moreover, with the above figures, which indicate that majority of SOO cadres are in their camps, it also pertinent to find out who are the heavily armed men behind the attack on security forces? After all, the BSF which lost one of its men on June 5th, had said in a tweet, that their jawan Ranjit Yadav died in an attack by suspected Kuki miscreants. Nothing is clear as of now and answers from authorities are awaited.

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