Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand recently urged armed volunteers in both the Hills and Valley areas to surrender their weapons to their respective MLAs or District Superintendents of Police within 15 days, warning that those who fail to comply will face legal action. The message was clear: illegal possession of weapons will not be tolerated.
But following the Chief Minister’s statement, the reported pre-planned ambush on innocent farmers of Langka Naga village while they were working in their paddy fields at around 7:30 am today raises a serious and disturbing question: Are the Government’s warnings being matched by effective action on the ground?
This is not merely another security incident. When farmers are attacked while cultivating their fields, it strikes at the very foundation of civilian life. Farmers have every right to work their land without fear of armed attacks. If citizens cannot safely enter their own paddy fields, the issue goes far beyond law and order—it becomes a fundamental question of governance and the State’s ability to protect its people.
There have been reports alleging the involvement of cadres belonging to SoO groups, including the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) and Kuki National Front (KNF). These allegations must be investigated thoroughly, independently and without political consideration. Responsibility must be established through a credible investigation, and anyone found guilty must face the law.
A warning is meaningful only when it is followed by action.
If armed groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework are found responsible for attacks on civilians, the Government of Manipur must demand accountability. There cannot be one standard of law for ordinary citizens and another for armed groups.
The reported extension of the SoO agreement by the Government of India in August 2026 has also intensified public demands for its review or abrogation. Whatever the political or security considerations behind the arrangement, the safety of civilians cannot be compromised. No agreement, political understanding or security arrangement should become a shield for those who threaten innocent lives.
The Manipur Government must therefore answer a fundamental question:
Who will protect the farmers if even their paddy fields are no longer safe?
For more than three years, the people of Manipur have endured violence, displacement, fear and severe economic hardship. They do not need another cycle of assurances, condemnations and promises. They need visible security, impartial investigations, accountability and the freedom to live and work without intimidation.
The Chief Minister has drawn a line by declaring that illegal possession of weapons will not be tolerated. Now the Government must demonstrate that this declaration applies to everyone—without exception, without political pressure and without fear.
The people are watching. Farmers are watching. The Government must act before another innocent civilian becomes a victim. Governance is not measured by the strength of a statement; it is measured by the State’s ability to protect its people.
Leader writer: Sh. Ajit
