New Delhi: Kuki militant groups in Manipur under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement have agreed to shift seven designated camps from conflict-prone areas and reduce their overall number to de-escalate tensions and build confidence, according to an official statement issued on Saturday by the Ministry of Home Affairs after a crucial meeting.
The crucial and much-anticipated decision was taken at a high-level tripartite meeting between senior representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the State Government of Manipur currently under President’s Rule, and the two umbrella organisations of Kuki armed groups – the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF) – held in New Delhi after months of prolonged negotiation and deadlock.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a revised tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with new, stricter terms and conditions, or ground rules, coming into effect from the day of signing for a period of one year, which will be reviewed periodically based on strict ground compliance and assessment by central security agencies.
“Among other provisions, the revised ground rules reiterated the territorial integrity of Manipur and the need for a negotiated, peaceful and constitutional solution to bring lasting peace, stability and normalcy to the State of Manipur,” the official joint statement said, addressing core concerns of all stakeholders and civil society organisations across the valley.
The SoO is a vital tripartite ceasefire framework involving the Centre, the Manipur government and around two dozen Kuki militant outfits operating under KNO and UPF. The original pact was first signed in 2008 to end armed hostilities and bring the groups into the political negotiation process and has been extended periodically ever since with revised ground rules.
File Photo: An aerial view of a designated camp of Kuki SoO groups in Manipur’s hill district. Under the revised SoO pact signed on Aug 8, seven such camps located near conflict-prone areas will be relocated and weapons shifted to nearest CRPF/BSF camps for joint monitoring.
“A tripartite meeting among representatives of MHA, Government of Manipur, and KNO and UPF was held at New Delhi today. The meeting concluded with the signing of a tripartite SoO agreement on re-negotiated terms and conditions (ground rules) to be effective from the day of signing of the agreement for a period of one year,” the statement added officially, confirming the extension.
As per the revised rules, KNO and UPF have also agreed to relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict and close to Meitei villages, and reduce the number of designated camps while relocating all weapons and ammunition to the nearest CRPF/BSF camps for joint monitoring, verification and safe custody to prevent misuse.
At present, SoO groups operate around 14 designated camps in the hill districts, particularly in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, which are considered strongholds of the Kuki community, and have around 2,200 armed cadres belonging to the KNO and UPF, according to official security estimates shared with the press by intelligence agencies.
A designated camp is a monitored residential facility to house militant cadres who have signed the SoO or peace agreement with the Government. These camps keep armed groups confined, disciplined and restricted under agreed-upon ground rules with strict prohibition on offensive operations, extortion and movement in civilian areas with arms.
The development comes amid strong, sustained and vocal demands by several Meitei and Naga civil society organisations for complete abrogation of the SoO agreement. These organisations have alleged the active involvement of SoO groups in the ethnic conflict since May 2023 using sophisticated arms looted and supplied from across the border. Kuki groups, in turn, have strongly and consistently alleged the involvement of Meitei and Naga militant groups like UNLF, PLA, PREPAK and NSCN factions in the violence against Kuki villages.
In another significant development aimed at restoring normalcy and public confidence, the Kuki Council, the apex body of the Kuki community, has decided to reopen the crucial National Highway-2 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods after months of blockade. The decision came after a series of marathon meetings between MHA officials and a Kuki Council delegation over the last few days in New Delhi in a cordial atmosphere. The Kuki Council has assured full cooperation with security forces deployed by the Centre to maintain peace along NH-2, the lifeline of Manipur which connects Imphal to Dimapur.
Officials believe the reopening of NH-2 will ease the severe shortage of essential commodities and medicines in both hill and valley districts and will be a major confidence-building measure. The Centre has assured that adequate security will be provided by Central Armed Police Forces to ensure safe and unhindered movement of all communities without any fear or intimidation.
The SoO revision comes against the backdrop of the protracted and painful Kuki-Meitei ethnic conflict that violently erupted on May 3, 2023, following a Tribal Solidarity March in Churachandpur district organised to oppose the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status. What began as a protest against the Meitei community’s long-standing demand for Scheduled Tribe status spiraled into unprecedented, state-wide violence, leading to loss of over 250 precious lives and large-scale displacement of more than 60,000 people from both communities who are still living in relief camps.
Kuki people were forced to flee Imphal valley, considered their ancestral homes and workplaces, for survival after targeted attacks, while Meiteis left the hills, resulting in total geographical and administrative separation of the two communities with buffer zones manned by central forces. Even after more than two years, normalcy is yet to return fully.
Kuki groups now demand Separate Administration in the form of Union Territory with legislature for security and political future under the Indian Constitution, stating that living together again is no longer possible after the deep trust deficit. While Meitei groups push for integrity of Manipur and implementation of NRC to protect indigenous identity and detect illegal immigrants. The Centre has stated that it will hold political dialogue with all stakeholders to find an amicable and lasting solution.
