MHA Working On Modalities To Extend SoO With Kuki Militant Groups

The SoO agreement to cease hostilities in Northeast was signed with 25 armed Kuki militant groups of Manipur in 2008 and is renewed every year with the last extension expiring on February 29. However, several Meitei organisations have been demanding abrogation of the SoO, accusing the outfits for their involvement in the present violence in the state.

New Delhi:The Home Ministry is working on some strict rules that are to be imposed while extending the Suspension of Operations (SoO) with Kuki militants from Manipur, government sources said.

The actions are being taken following allegations that the Kuki militants are involved in the present violence in the state.

According to sources, the Home Ministry has taken strong note of the allegations made against the Kuki outfits. Also, the Ministry is examining the involvement of such terror groups in Manipur violence, the official told ETV Bharat on Thursday.

According to the official, the SoO will be revised with some new restrictions, including movement of the cadres within the designated areas only, abjure participation in public protest, strictly avoid use of arms, proper reporting to the joint monitoring group (JMG) among others.

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has recently said that the violence in Manipur is not related to terrorism.

The SoO agreement was signed with the 25 armed Kuki militant groups of Manipur in 2008 and since then, the extension has been renewed every year. The last extension expired on February 29.

Suspension of Operations (SoS)

The SoS was first signed between the Government of India, Manipur government and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) on August 22, 2008, to cease hostilities. The militant groups agreed to stop any form of violence. The Centre and the state government also agreed that no operation would be launched against the signatories if they abide by the agreement’s terms.

A Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) consisting of principal secretary (Home), inspector general of additional director general (intelligence), representatives of army, paramilitary forces and home ministry was set up. The JMG was tasked to meet every month and check if the militant groups are abiding by the terms of the agreement. However, some terms of the agreement have been revised at least thrice over the years.

According to the agreement, cadres of the militant groups need to stay in designated camps, they are paid a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 and such camps will not be located close to populated areas and National Highways as well as far away from international borders. Not more than 20 percent of cadres will be allowed to leave the camp at any given time.

All weapons will be held within the camp’s armoury in a double locking system, with one key being with the group and other, with the concerned security force.

Home Secretary’s Meeting Over Manipur

Altogether three high-level meetings took place at the North Block under the chairmanship of home secretary. “The home secretary chaired three crucial meetings on August 14, 15, and 27 to review the security scenario of Manipur. Piyush Goyal, additional secretary in the Home Ministry for northeast was also present in the meeting,” sources said.

Meiteis Demand

Several Meitei groups have been demanding that the SoO be withdrawn as the members of such militant groups have indulged in violence during the ethnic clashes in Manipur, ever since violence in Manipur started last year in May.

The Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation has recently appealed to Shah to abrogate SoO with Kuki terror outfits due to its repeated violations of the rules of the agreement.

It has also appealed to the Ministry to investigate the involvement of Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), its officials and armed Kuki terrorists behind the attacks on Meitei civilians using drone bombs and missile attacks.

The Meitei foundation has further appealed to the Home Ministry to launch a concerted crackdown on armed Kuki terrorists and neutralise their nexus with foreign anti-India forces behind the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

Submitting video proof substantiating involvement of Kuki militants in the violence, the Meitei foundation said that armed Kuki terrorists using an ambulance registered under the Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO), Leimakhong to infiltrate Koutruk, fired on civilians and killed 31-year-old Ngangbam Surbala Devi. Another nine civilians were injured, including her 11-year-old daughter, policeman and journalists, it said.

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