Security forces destroy UKNA Camps in Churachandpur during anti-insurgency operation

Para Special Forces commandos, in coordination with the Assam Rifles, have destroyed camps of the proscribed insurgent outfit United Kuki National Army (UKNA) in the forested areas of violence-affected Churachandpur district of Manipur, officials said on Friday.
According to officials familiar with the operation, the UKNA is not a signatory to the cessation of hostilities agreement with the Union government and maintains camps both within Manipur and across the international border in Myanmar. The latest operation was confined to Churachandpur district.
Security force teams were inserted into the jungle areas using helicopters as part of the coordinated action. An officer aware of the developments said the joint operation was launched in response to activities attributed to the United Kuki National Army that were aimed at sustaining tension in the state and obstructing efforts to restore normalcy. Several cadres of the outfit have allegedly been involved in firing incidents targeting the houses of internally displaced persons who were recently resettled under Phase I of the government’s rehabilitation initiative.
The operation began at around 9 am on Friday and was continuing at the time of filing this report, officials said.
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 2023, primarily between Meitei and Kuki communities, which has so far claimed at least 260 lives and displaced around 60,000 people. While Meiteis largely reside in the Imphal valley and Kukis in the hill districts, both communities retreated to their respective areas following the outbreak of violence. Sporadic incidents have continued despite the deployment of a large number of security personnel.
The state government initiated a phased resettlement of internally displaced persons last month. Phase I covers families whose houses were partially damaged, while Phase II will include beneficiaries to be provided housing under a Union government flagship scheme. Phase III is intended for families requiring relocation to either the valley or hill areas from which they fled at the onset of the violence.
Over the past month, armed Kuki groups have been involved in at least two reported firing incidents near areas where internally displaced persons had been relocated under Phase I, officials added.