Kukis Reopen Manipur’s Lifeline Highway, Extend Truce With Insurgent Groups

A crucial organisation representing the Kuki and Zomi tribes in Manipur has agreed to reopen National Highway-02, the state's lifeline, for unrestricted movement of commuters and cargo. This comes nearly two years after ethnic clashes first erupted in the border state.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed that the Churachandpur-based Kuki Zo Council (KZC) assured free passage on NH-02, ahead of strong speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may soon visit Manipur. The MHA also announced the renewal of the contentious Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with two umbrella groups representing about two dozen Kuki, Zomi, and Hmar insurgent organisations. The agreement, however, comes with a clear condition: the territorial integrity of Manipur will remain untouched.

SoO Agreement Renewed on Stricter Terms

The tripartite SoO deal, first signed in 2008 between Kuki insurgent groups, the Centre, and the Manipur government, was extended again on Thursday in Delhi after fresh negotiations. The agreement requires insurgents to remain in designated camps with weapons locked under strict monitoring.

The umbrella groups-Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF)-have agreed to:

• Relocate seven designated camps away from conflict-prone areas.
• Reduce the total number of designated camps.
• Store weapons with the nearest Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) camps.

Security forces will conduct strict verification drives to weed out foreign nationals, and the joint monitoring group will closely oversee compliance. The MHA warned that any violations could lead to termination of the agreement.

NH-02 Reopened Amid Divisions

The KZC's decision to reopen NH-02 followed several meetings with the MHA in Delhi. The group pledged full cooperation with central security forces to maintain peace on the highway. Officials stressed that any attempts to disrupt free movement along NH-02 would be dealt with firmly.

However, not all groups are aligned. The Zomi Council (ZC), also based in Churachandpur, opposed the reopening, claiming it primarily benefits the majority Meitei community while ignoring the hardships of the Zomi people. The ZC called the move a "betrayal" without adequate safeguards for tribal interests.

Ongoing Tensions and Challenges

Despite the renewed agreement, deep mistrust lingers. Manipur's assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on February 29, 2024, urging the Centre to scrap the SoO altogether. Both Meitei and Kuki groups have accused each other of militant involvement in the ethnic violence that began in May 2023.

Security agencies, including the Manipur Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have documented participation of SoO-linked militants in the unrest, along with banned Meitei outfits that re-emerged from Myanmar. Notably, three insurgents of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), a SoO signatory, and one fighter from the Meitei group United National Liberation Front (Pambei) were killed in Jiribam district in September 2024.

Former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh revealed in March 2024 that a ceasefire agreement had been secretly signed in 2005 between the Assam Rifles and Kuki insurgent groups-without the knowledge of the Manipur government. This only came to light later, leading to the formal 2008 SoO involving the state.

Ethnic Divide Continues

Since May 2023, Manipur has witnessed relentless clashes between the valley-majority Meiteis and the hill-dwelling Kuki tribes. Over 260 people have lost their lives, while nearly 50,000 have been displaced. The conflict is rooted in demands: the Meiteis seek Scheduled Tribe status, while the Kukis-closely linked to Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram-push for a separate administration, citing discrimination and inequitable resource distribution.

Currently, Manipur is under President's Rule, with its assembly suspended following Chief Minister N Biren Singh's resignation in February 2024.