SoO camps are epicentres of crimes and violence : Awangbow

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 28 : Naga People’s Front (NPF) Manipur State Unit president Awangbow Newmai has categorically stated that the designated camps of militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement are epicentres of crimes, violence and communal conflicts underlining that there are records of the designated camps serving as epicentres of crimes and violence.
Speaking to media persons at their Thangmeiband Tarung office today, Awangbow Newmai reacted sharply to the questions raised by the Congress party regarding the NPF’s meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Recalling that the Naga-Kuki conflict 1992-1997 claimed around 1000 lives took place when the Congress party was in power and it was the Congress Government which signed the SoO agreement with Kuki militants, Awangbow Newmai claimed that there are ample records of the designated camps set up at multiple locations under SoO agreement serving as epicentres of crimes and violence.
If the SoO agreement was not signed, the crisis seen today would not have happened, and the Congress party must admit this fact.
Generally new districts are created for administrative convenience but the creation of new districts executed by the Congress Government in 2016 was done not for administrative convenience but for their own selfish interest, Awangbow Newmai said.
The then Congress Government did not make any detailed study before the new districts were created. For all these blunders and lapses, the Congress party ought to tender an apology to the people of Manipur, he said.
On the questions raised by the Congress party regarding the NPF’s meeting with Amit Shah, Awangbow remarked that the same questions exposed the ignorance of Congress leaders.
He said that the NPF established in 1963 is the second oldest political party in India.
NPF president Neiphiu Rio and some senior leaders of the party met Amit Shah in connection with the prevailing crisis in Manipur.
“The NPF delegation which included myself urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve the case of the killing of six hostages who were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13, 2026”, Awang-bow Newmai said.
Highlighting the many crises and issues besetting Manipur and the North East region, the NPF delegation also urged the Union Home Minister to pay special attention and take up concrete steps to bring justice and peace, he said.
Neiphiu Rio had stated that the 14 individuals detained by Nagas are innocent and should be released. He made this statement as the leader of NPF, not as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Awangbow Newmai clarified.  
Neiphiu Rio appealed that the 14 detainees should be released so as to secure the release of the six Naga hostages dead or alive, and work for delivering justice, he said.
The NPF Manipur Unit president asserted that the people will appreciate the Congress party if they cooperate with the peace efforts instead of raising questions on NPF’s meeting with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.
Had no SoO agreement been signed, had no protection been given to militants and had no designated camps been set up, the Kuki-Meitei conflict would have never occurred, Awangbow asserted.
Now Kukis and Nagas are caught in a violent conflict.
At the time when the 14 Kuki detainees were released, KNF(P) spokes- person Aaron Kipgen said that the six Nagas were abducted by them. The Kuki-Zo Council has also admitted that the six Nagas were killed by Kuki militants, Awangbow said.      
The KZC has expressed regret for the killing. But expressing regret or saying sorry can never condone the killing of six innocent people. All the perpetrators must be brought to justice, Awangbow said.
Had the Congress Government acted with fore- sight, the crisis seen today would not have happened, he added.
If the Congress party is a responsible political party, it should act responsibly, the NPF Manipur Unit president said. NPF does not want violence, NPF does not support killing or detention of innocent people, he added.