Manipur Shiv Sena seeks clarification on Centre’s SoO pact with Kuki outfits
Imphal: The Shiv Sena Unit of Manipur on Monday questioned the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the central government and Kuki underground groups operating in this strife Manipur state.
Talking to the newsmen at Imphal on Monday, M Tombi, President, of the Shiv Sena Unit of Manipur said that the government at the Centre should clarify the SoO pact signed between the Centre and Kuki underground groups.
He said that the pact ended in February 2024, but the Centre is mute even after the Kuki militants launched various forms of subversive activities in the state during the past many weeks that led to the deaths of two CRPF personnel and injured two others at Naransena village in Manipur's Bishnupur district on April 27.
In response to a query posed by a reporter, M Tombi said that the SoO agreement with Kuki militants under the two umbrella groups, namely United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) has expired in February this year.
Over 25 Kuki Militant groups under two apex bodies —KNO and UPF are signatories of the SoO.
The ceasefire pact, which was first signed in 2008, has been extended periodically.
But this time, the pact was not extended, he reminded.
Given various subversive activities including the blasting of a bridge on National Highway 102 and shooting at the oil tankers on NH 37 by the armed tribal militants in the hills, the SSM president asked how long the central forces deployed in Manipur will remain silent despite terrorist acts of Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists causing bloodshed to a particular community for the past many months.
Interestingly, SSM does not have any elected legislator in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly at present.