CoBRA takes over Sinai Camp

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 21: The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of CRPF has taken over the Sinai Camp, a designated camp of Kuki militants located in Kangpokpi district.
Following the deadly attack carried out by Kuki militants at Khongbal Sunurok Uyok Hill on October 19, 2026 in which three Meitei civilians were killed and other others were injured, a large number of CoBRA personnel moved to Sinai Camp.  
Even though the location of Sinai Camp falls under Kangpokpi district’s Saikul sub-division, it is very close to the border of Imphal East district.
A large number of CoBRA personnel surrounded Sinai Camp from Tuesday and verified the inmates, sources said.
Notably, Sinai Camp has been housing both Kuki National Army (KNA) and Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) cadres after the Government of India signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the KNO and the UPF in 2005 which was later joined by the State Government in 2008.
KNA and KLA are constituent parties of the umbrella group, KNO.
Even though 140 to 150 cadres of KNA and KLA were supposed to be staying in Sinai Camp, only 18 cadres were found during the verification process conducted since October 20, 2026.
As per the SoO ground rules, all cadres of militant groups which are signatories of the agreement must stay put inside their designated camps, and their weapons should be deposited in a double-locking system.
As the number of cadres found inside the camp was far short of the actual number of cadres who should be there as per the SoO ground rules, CoBRA took over Sinai Camp from Tuesday and the 18 cadres who were found inside the camp were disarmed, said the sources.
Moreover, due process has been initiated to identify and take necessary action against all the SoO cadres who were supposed to be inside Sinai Camp but were found absent.
Following the outbreak of the violent armed aggression which erupted at Churachandpur on May 3, 2023, many Meitei villages located in Imphal East district, close to Kangpokpi district came under repeated attacks from Kuki militants.
Many people were killed and a large number of houses were burnt down during these attacks.
People of these villages have been saying that the assailants were Kuki militants housed at Sinai Camp.
Even as several CSOs and different sections of the public were saying that Kuki militants were violating SoO ground rules and committing violence, concerned authorities were claiming that they inspect the designated camps from time to time.
Following the killing of SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar at Moreh and repeated attacks on State forces, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh had stated that there was the possibility of the involvement of SoO militants in these attacks and the Government was investigating whether militants based in Myanmar were also involved.
Taking serious note of the absence of the vast majority of SoO cadres who are supposed to be inside Sinai Camp, security agencies and the State Government will be sending a representation along with a detailed report, said the sources.
Notably, the Government of India, State Government, KNO and UPF have already agreed to reduce the number of designated camps from 13 to seven and shift some of them from their present locations.  The SoO pact expired on September 1 this year.