Context: Recently, the Manipur government withdrew from the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with two hill-based tribal insurgent groups citing that they were “influencing agitation among forest encroachers”.

• The protest rally organised recently had defied Section 144 as it was influenced by the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA).

• Section 144 is a law that empowers the executive magistrate of a state or territory to prohibit the assembly of 4 or more people in an area.

What are the roots of the Kuki insurgency?

• The Naga movement is the India’s longest-running insurgency movement.

• Kuki groups have also demanded ‘independent Kuki homeland’ that spreads across Manipur.

• The Kuki insurgency gained momentum during their ethnic clashes with the Nagas of Manipur in the early 1990s.

Clashes of Nagas and Kukis

• The two tribes have shared a hostile relationship since colonial times.

• Land that the Kukis claim to be their “homeland” in the Manipur hills overlaps with the demands of Naga for Greater Nagaland or Nagalim.

What is the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact?

• The SoO pact was signed on August, 2008, to initiate political dialogue with the insurgents of both Nagas and Kukis.

• Under this agreement, the Kuki militants who were initially demanding a separate Kuki state have decreased their demand to a ‘Kukiland territorial council’,

• Kukiland territorial council would have financial and administrative powers that are independent of the Manipur Assembly and government.

• There are nearly 30 Kuki insurgent groups in Manipur where 25 are under tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the Government of India and the state.

• 17 of them are under the umbrella group Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and 8 are under the United People’s Front (UPF).

What are the terms of the SoO pact?

• The period of the agreement is 1 year and extendable as per the progress of its implementation.

• A committee called the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) was set up to oversee its implementation with representatives from all the signatories.

• Security forces of both state and central forces and the militants cannot launch any operations.

• The signatories of UPF and KNO shall abide by the Constitution of India and the territorial integrity of Manipur.

• They are prohibited from committing all kinds of atrocities, extortion, etc.

• The militant cadres will be confined in designated camps identified by the Government.

• Arms are deposited in a safe room under a double-locking system.

• The groups are given arms only to guard their camps and protect their leaders.

• The UG cadres living in the designated camps are given a monthly stipend of Rs 5000 for their rehabilitation.

• Financial assistance is also being provided to maintain the designated camps.