CM urged to remove Central forces, deploy State forces Post Kanto Sabal arson : State Govt holds security meet

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 12 : In the wake of the burning down of six houses at Kanto Sabal in Leimakhong area in broad daylight right under the nose of a large number of Central security personnel on July 11, 2026, the State Government held a high level security meeting with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand in the chair.
Sources said that Home Minister Govindas Kon-thoujam, Commissioner (Home) N Ashok Kumar and DGP Mukesh Singh attended the meeting.
The meeting deliberated on the arson at Kanto Sabal and security forces’ failure to thwart it but what exactly transpired at the meeting could not be ascertained.
Sources said that State forces have been deployed in the Leimakhong area following yesterday’s incident of arson in the presence of a large number of Central forces.
Earlier this morning, Kanto Sabal villagers met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand at his office and demanded withdrawal of Central forces from Leima-khong area.
A 10-member team from Kanto Sabal held a meeting with the Chief Minister at around 9 am and the meeting went on for almost one hour.
During the meeting, the Kanto Sabal villagers appealed to the Chief Minister to replace Punjab Regiment and army personnel currently deployed in the area adjoining Kuki habitations with State forces.
Taking serious note of the appeal, the Chief Minister assured that the Government would take up necessary measures.      
Speaking to The Sangai Express regarding their meeting with the Chief Minister, Kanto Sabal Village Development Committee president RK Manisana said they urged the Chief Minister to withdraw the personnel of Punjab Regiment currently stationed between Kuki and Meitei settlements of Leimakhong and Kanto Sabal, and replace them with State forces.
“We also raised a proposal to station CRPF at Leimakhong Chingmang where State forces would be deployed. We also expressed our desire to deploy police commandos together with CRPF in the particular area”, Manisana said.
He said that the Chief Minister listened to their appeals and proposals keenly and assured to translate the same appeals into action.
“Following the Chief Minister’s assurance, we have seen cleaning of a premise where CRPF would be stationed. Moreover, police commandos have also been stationed in the area”, Manisana said.
On learning about the Kukis marching toward Kanto Sabal, a large number of people gathered on the road.
In the meantime, army personnel from Leimakhong military garrison blocked the path of Meiteis and Nagas by parking their casspir vehicles across the road. The army personnel then drove back the Meiteis and Nagas by firing numerous rounds of tear gas shells.
It was only after the army troops drove back the Meiteis and Nagas far away from their check-post that the Kukis set ablaze six Meitei houses, Manisana said. The army troops did not do anything when the houses were torched rather they remained blind to what was happening around them. Because of such highly partial and discriminatory conduct of the army, people do not have any faith in them, he said.