GG News Bureau
Imphal, 7th August. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed the Assembly on Wednesday about the ongoing joint inspections of Kuki-Zo militant groups observing the Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the Central and state governments. These inspections are part of a regular monitoring process under the SoO pact, which was first signed in 2008 and has been periodically extended.
The SoO agreement involves the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) and is overseen by a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) consisting of representatives from central and state agencies as well as the KNO and UPF.
Responding to a question from Congress MLA Surjakumar Okram, Singh stated in a written reply that “monthly joint inspections of cadres or more frequent checks are being conducted to monitor the militants and their arms and ammunition.” The most recent inspection occurred on July 19 this year.
Singh also detailed that the number of militant groups under KNO and UPF totals 2,181 following a “reverification exercise” conducted between 2013 and 2014. Specifically, KNO comprises 17 militant outfits, while UPF includes eight groups.
Regarding the stipend for SoO representatives, Singh addressed another query from Congress MLA K Meghachandra, stating that payments have been made periodically. However, since 2022, payments have been delayed as accounts are undergoing verification.
On the issue of armed village volunteers raised by Congress MLA K Ranjit, Singh explained that the number of volunteers is not officially assessed due to the ongoing conflict.
Singh reported that, as of today, approximately 133 people who had fled violence in Jiribam district have returned to their homes. The ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur has resulted in over 200 deaths and thousands displaced since May of last year.
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