Imphal: Suspension of Operation of Kuki militant groups under the umbrella of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) has been extended for another year ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to Manipur on September 13.
The Kuki-Zo Council has decided on Thursday to open the National Highway-2 for the free movement of commuters and essential good.
The decision came after a series of meetings between officials of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a delegation of KZC in the last few days at New Delhi, said a PIB press release issued on Thursday.
KZC has given commitment to cooperate with Security Forces deployed by Government of India to maintain peace along NH-2.
Side by side, a tripartite meeting among representatives of MHA, Government of Manipur, and KNO and UPF was also held at New Delhi on Thursday.
The meeting concluded with the signing of a tripartite Suspension of Operations (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.
Among other provisions, the revised ground rules reiterated the territorial integrity of Manipur and need for a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to the state of Manipur.
KNO and UPF have also agreed to relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict; reduce the number of designated camps; relocate the weapons with nearest CRPF/BSF camps; and stringent physical verification of cadres by security forces to de-list foreign nationals, if any.
The Joint Monitoring Group will henceforth closely monitor enforcement of ground rules, and violations will be dealt with firmly in future, including review of the SoO Agreement, the ministry said.
Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement between Army, and constituents of KNO and UPF was in force since August 1, 2005. It was agreed between Government of India, Government of Manipur, and KNO and UPF to formalize the arrangement as tripartite SoO Agreement with effect from August 22, 2008.
The Agreed Ground Rules were revised and the SoO Agreement was extended with KNO and UPF from time to time until it expired on February 29, 2024. In view of the serious law and order and security situation in Manipur since May 3, 2023, it was mutually agreed to review the implementation of the Agreed Ground Rules and revise the same in order to make it more effective and transparent.
KNO and UPF as well as their constituents shall completely abjure the path of violence and abide by the Constitution of India, laws of the land, and territorial integrity of Manipur.
Suspension of peration Agreement shall be followed by tripartite dialogue with KNO and UPF to pave the way for a negotiated political settlement under the Constitution of India in a time bound manner.
It was agreed that KNO and UPF as well as their constituents shall not have association either at organizational level or at individual level with any other armed group, within the country or outside.
It was also agreed that KNO and UPF as well as their constituents shall not undertake any offensive operations like ambush, raid, sniping and attack leading to death/injury/damage or loss of property, kidnapping, extortion, intimidation, etc. against Security Forces, other groups and/or the public.
The government agreed that security forces (Army/Assam Rifles, Central Armed Police Forces and the State Police) shall not launch operations against KNO and UPF as well as their constituents as long as they abide by the agreement.
