CM Enters Militant Camp as Civilian Killings Trigger Shutdown in Imphal East
Three firewood collectors were shot dead at Nongshum in Imphal East, their bodies placed outside the chief minister's bungalow in a stark act of protest, triggering a district-wide shutdown. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh subsequently made the first-ever visit by a sitting chief minister to a Suspension of Operations militant camp in Kangpokpi. National Pharmacy Week brought health awareness events across Manipur amid the ongoing unrest.
Khemchand Singh Becomes First Chief Minister to Inspect a Suspension of Operations Camp
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited the Sinai Camp in Kangpokpi district on October 25, 2026, becoming the first sitting chief minister ever to enter a designated Suspension of Operations camp. The Sinai camp had been assigned to the Kuki National Army and Kuki Liberation Army under the SoO agreement but was recently disarmed and seized by the CRPF CoBRA unit in joint operations with Manipur Police and Assam Rifles. The operation was launched following the killing of three innocent firewood collectors at Nongshum in Imphal East. During the inspection, only 17 individuals were found in the camp, all suspected of impersonating registered SoO cadres using false identities, against an expected strength of about 150 cadres. The Chief Minister inspected the camp premises and was briefed by CRPF, Assam Rifles and police officers on operations and the security situation. He praised the CoBRA unit for their bravery and urged security forces to protect innocent civilians during combing operations. Khemchand declared that lasting peace requires ending gun culture, calling on citizens to shun violence, surrender illegal arms, and work toward restoring harmony in the state. Senior officers from CRPF, Assam Rifles, Manipur Police and civil administration from both Kangpokpi and Imphal East attended. [3]
Three Firewood Collectors Shot Dead at Nongshum, Bodies Left Outside Chief Minister's Bungalow
Three civilians were killed in a firing attack on firewood collectors at Nongshum village in Imphal East district, in one of the most provocative recent incidents in Manipur's prolonged security crisis. The bodies of the three victims were placed outside the Chief Minister's bungalow in a stark act of public protest, underscoring deep community anger over civilian deaths. The killing was directly cited as the trigger for the subsequent joint security operation that led to the disarming and takeover of the Sinai Camp in Kangpokpi district, assigned to the Kuki National Army and Kuki Liberation Army under the Suspension of Operations agreement. The attack on unarmed civilians engaged in collecting firewood drew widespread condemnation across Manipur and beyond. Placing the bodies outside the CM's official residence signified communities had exhausted patience with the state's handling of civilian casualties amid the ethnic conflict. The incident further exposed the fragile security conditions in Imphal East district, where tensions have remained acute throughout the prolonged unrest. The event set off a chain reaction of civic responses including protests, a shutdown and the chief minister's first-ever visit to an SoO camp, reshaping the week's political and security landscape in the state capital and surrounding districts. [5]
🤝 Chief Minister Inaugurates Guest House in Imphal for Visitors from Manipur's Hill Districts
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh inaugurated a dedicated guest house in Imphal to provide accommodation for visitors and citizens traveling from the hill districts of Manipur. The initiative is intended to ease the practical difficulties faced by residents of hill districts who travel to the state capital for official business, medical appointments, court proceedings or other administrative needs. Imphal serves as the administrative and commercial hub of Manipur, drawing regular visitors from both the valley and surrounding hill areas, but affordable government accommodation for hill-district visitors has historically been limited. The new guest house aims to bridge this gap, ensuring hill communities have a secure and accessible base during stays in the capital. The inauguration reflects the state government's focus on maintaining connectivity between valley and hill populations, a particularly significant priority given the ongoing ethnic tensions that have strained relations between communities across Manipur. By investing in civic infrastructure that specifically serves the hill districts, the government signaled its commitment to maintaining administrative and social linkages across the entire state at a time when physical movement between regions has sometimes been restricted by conflict-related disruptions. [1]
🎓 National Pharmacy Week 2026 Highlights Responsible Medicine Use and Antimicrobial Resistance in Manipur
National Pharmacy Week 2026 was observed in Manipur with a focus on responsible medicine use and awareness about antimicrobial resistance, as reported by Ukhrul Times. The annual observance, coordinated through pharmacy associations and health departments across India, carried particular relevance for Manipur, where healthcare access in remote hill districts and ongoing civil unrest have made pharmaceutical distribution and proper medicine use persistent concerns. Events during the week featured awareness programs for both healthcare workers and the general public on the importance of using medicines responsibly, particularly antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance refers to the growing resistance of disease-causing organisms to existing drugs, identified as a major public health challenge globally and in India. In conflict-affected states like Manipur, disruption to healthcare supply chains and reduced access to qualified medical professionals can contribute to inappropriate self-medication. The observance was an opportunity to reinforce the message that antibiotics and other medicines should be taken only under medical guidance, completing full prescribed courses to prevent the emergence and spread of resistant strains. Pharmacy practitioners across Manipur used the week to engage communities on the dangers of self-medication, counterfeit medicines and incomplete treatment adherence. [4]
Sources: [3] The Sangai Express · [5] The Hindu · [1] News On AIR · [4] Ukhrul Times