Imphal, Sep 24: Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday proposed that armed cadres covered under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements and those engaged in peace negotiations be confined to their designated camps, along with their weapons, for a period of two to three months to check continuing violence in the state’s hill districts.
Proposal presented to governor
Biren Singh discussed the measure with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Lok Bhavan and said the governor had agreed to take the suggestions up with central leaders. He also recommended a parallel, statewide security operation during the confinement period to act against armed groups operating outside the existing arrangements and to recover unauthorised weapons.
“I have shared them with the governor. The governor has also assured me that he will raise the matter with the central leaders,”
The former chief minister framed the confinement and the security sweep as steps designed to reduce violence and to create conditions for the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Casualties, displacement and numbers
Citing his assessment of the situation in the hill areas since February, Biren Singh said that violence had resulted in the deaths of 58 people and the burning of approximately 40 to 50 villages. He also urged the resettlement of IDPs and called for an updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
| Item | Figure (as cited by Biren Singh) |
|---|---|
| Deaths since February | 58 |
| Villages burned | 40–50 |
| Kuki cadres under SoO (approx.) | 2,180 |
| Pambei-led UNLF cadres (peace arrangements) | ~1,400 |
| Zeliangrong United Front cadres (peace arrangements) | ~300 |
Details on cadres and rationale
Biren Singh said cadres covered by SoO or participating in peace talks should be identified irrespective of community affiliation and kept at their assigned camps during the proposed confinement. He argued this would make it easier to target groups operating beyond such arrangements and to recover weapons that are not authorised.
He linked the measures to broader concerns about illegal immigration, saying that addressing the security situation and strengthening registration would help in tackling what he described as this issue. Biren Singh said these suggestions were intended to facilitate the restoration of normal life in affected areas.
Operational and legal implications
The former chief minister’s proposal, if taken up by the governor and central authorities, would require coordination between the state police, central security forces and representatives of armed groups. Conferring legal authority for confinement of cadres and handling of weapons would likely involve clear standard operating procedures and safeguards, especially where peace processes are active.
- Identification: Determine which cadres fall under SoO or peace arrangements and verify their locations.
- Confinement logistics: Ensure camps can safely host cadres and accommodate weapons under record-keeping protocols.
- Security sweep: Plan targeted operations against unauthorised groups while avoiding disruption to legitimate peace-process participants.
Biren Singh did not provide operational details of how camps would be secured, nor did he specify the agencies that would lead the proposed statewide operation. He said only that the governor had assured him the proposals would be raised with the central leadership.
Political context and next steps
The suggestions come amid sustained efforts to stabilise the state following months of violence in the hill districts. Any movement on Biren Singh’s plan would depend on concurrence from the governor and the Union government, and on consultations with armed groups and community stakeholders engaged in the peace process.
Officials in the governor’s office and the Union Home Ministry will require time to assess the feasibility and legal basis for such confinement and a coordinated security operation. Meanwhile, the proposals add to ongoing discussion in Manipur about restoring normalcy, repatriating displaced people and strengthening administrative measures such as the NRC update called for by Biren Singh.
