Kuki-Zo Council approves reopening of NH 2 after talks with MHA ahead of PM Modi’s likely Manipur visit

“The Kuki-Zo Council has decided today to open the National Highway-02 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods. 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,” Ministry of Home Affairs informed in a statement issued on Thursday, September 4.

“KZC has given commitment to cooperate with Security Forces deployed by GoI to maintain peace along NH-02,” it added.

The latest development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Mizoram and Manipur on 13 September to inaugurate the new Bairabi-Sairang railway project, PTI reported citing officials in Aizawl.

Suspension of Operations agreement signed

A meeting between representatives of the Home Ministry, the Manipur government, the Kuki National Organisation , and the United People’s Front was also held in New Delhi today, where a Suspension of Operations Agreement was signed with revised terms.

“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 for a period of one year,” the statement read.

The revised terms also reiterated the territorial integrity of Manipur and the need for a negotiated solution to bring peace and stability in the state.

What terms have the Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front agreed to?

Both organisations gave nod to the following conditions —

• Reduce the number of designated camps.
• Relocate the weapons to the nearest CRPF/BSF camps.
• Relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict.
• Stringent physical verification of cadres by Security Forces to de-list foreign nationals, if any.

According to MHA, joint monitoring group will closely monitor enforcement of ground rules, and violations will be dealt with firmly in future, including review of the signed agreement.