Centre meets Kuki-Zo groups, discusses opening of highways, surrender of weapons

Five members of the Kuki-Zo SoO groups held talks with A.K. Mishra, Adviser (Northeast), MHA and Intelligence Bureau officials on Monday (June 9, 2025). File

Union Home Ministry (MHA) officials on Monday (June 9, 2025) discussed changes in the ground rules of the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement, the opening of national highways and surrender of weapons at a meeting with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, which was held after two years.

At the meeting, the insurgent groups, in peace talks with the government since 2008, were conveyed about ground rules violations and were also asked to shut down or relocate camps close to the Meitei-inhabited areas.

The ground rules of the SoO agreement are being reviewed by the MHA, and the next rounds of talks are expected next week to finalise the details for its implementation.

A senior government official told The Hindu that the preliminary meeting discussed a road map for restoring normalcy in the northeastern State and finding a long-term solution.

The official added that the opening of national highways for free movement of vehicles from Meitei areas and vice versa was emphasised upon. National Highways-2 and 37, which connect the land-locked Imphal valley to Nagaland and Assam respectively, critical for supply of essentials and other commodities, pass through Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

The talks, that were affected due to the May 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, were held in Delhi after a gap of two years. The insurgent groups reiterated their demand for a union territory with legislature for the Kuki-Zo people.

A SoO representative said, “The grounds for discussion should be spelt out clearly. An agreement for a political settlement should be part of the SoO extension. Most ground rules are likely to remain the same as 2008, but regarding relocation of camps, we will have to discuss with our constituents.”

Also Read: The paradox of the approach to the Manipur issue

Five members of the Kuki-Zo SoO groups held talks with A.K. Mishra, Adviser (Northeast), MHA and Intelligence Bureau officials on Monday (June 9, 2025).

Looting of weapons

“A large number of police weapons were looted since the violence began. The groups were told to surrender weapons to bring long-lasting peace,” the official said.

The agreement, in place since 2008, has been periodically extended each year except on February 29, 2024, when the Manipur Government pulled out from the tripartite pact; the MHA and SoO groups being the other two signatories.

The representative added, “The meeting focused on the way forward, it concluded on a positive note. Some of the camps that were set up in 2008 were inappropriately located; they have water scarcity and are in want of serious repair. The cadres have not been paid stipend for the past two years.”

The representative added that the State government withdrew from the SoO pact after alleging ground rules violation. “The ground rules are violated if our cadres attack the security forces. Post-May 3, 2023, the State police commandos at the behest of the State government were attacking our camps with mortars.”

Around 2,200 cadres of the SoO groups comprising United People’s Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) – umbrella organisations of 25 insurgent groups, live in 14 designated camps in the hill districts of Manipur. The cadres are entitled to a stipend of ₹6,000 per month which has not been paid since the violence erupted.

The SoO agreement was signed in the wake of Kuki-Naga clashes in the 1990s when hundreds were killed. The insurgent groups demanded an independent land for the Kuki-Zo people.

Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had claimed that SoO groups violated ground rules and instigated ethnic violence.

The violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people, which erupted in the State on May 3, 2023, has claimed the lives of 250 people, displacing more than 60,000 people from their homes.

Published - June 09, 2025 11:19 pm IST