Terminate Suspension Of Operations Agreement With Kuki Insurgent Groups: Manipur Groups

As the 15-month-long violence in Manipur started witnessing the use of drones for bombings of civilian areas by insurgent groups, civil society organisations have appealed to the government to take immediate steps to control the situation.

New Delhi:As theongoingviolence in Manipur has started witnessing bombing through drones by suspected Kuki militants, three New Delhi-based Manipur organisations on Monday reiterated their demand to the Home Ministry to terminate the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with the Kuki insurgent groups.

The Delhi Manipuri Society (DeMaS), Meitei Heritage Society and Ningol United Progressive Initiative (NUPI) reiterated their previous demands for strict enforcement of Article 5 (x) of the Revised Ground Rules of the SoO agreement (2011) with Kuki terror outfits.

"In case of the groups found violating the ground rules in future, the Manipur government on the recommendations of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) may terminate the SoO arrangements and also take appropriate action including the use of forces against the group," the organisations said.

Since August 19, three rounds of meetings have been held between three members of the Kuki-Zo insurgent groups and representatives of the Home Ministry. The Kuki-Zo insurgent groups of Manipur have been in a suspension of operation agreement with the government since 2008.

The organisations also appealed to the Centre to take measures to prevent violence orchestrated by foreign enemy-backed Kuki terror outfits that are responsible for destabilising Manipur.

On September 1 and 2, simultaneous aerial bombings in the valley of Manipur using high-tech military-grade drones and armed aggression also put the security agencies into a tizzy.

"There is no doubt the militants (Kuki) are backed by foreign agencies. Use of such high-tech drones for bombings civilian areas needs proper training," Colonel (Retd) Kishore Chand told ETV Bharat.

He said that it is high time, both the Centre and the Manipur government must take tough calls to end the violence.

"We have an apprehension that if the situation continues like this, in the coming days the situation may further worsen," said Col (Retd) Chand highlighting that violence orchestrated by foreign enemy-backed Kuki terror outfits.

Echoing the same view, geo-political expert Dr Amlan Dutta said that the Centre must take immediate and concrete actions for peace to prevail in the northeast.

"The violence in Manipur which has been continuing for more than 15 months has taken a new twist as the anti-social elements started using drones for bombing civilian places. If we closely look into the development, the involvement of a 'foreign entity' is quite visible," claimed Dr Dutta.

The latest drone attack in different places in Manipur in the last few days killed two persons besides injuring 10 others including a policeman.