Imphal: Inner Manipur Member of Parliament Angomcha Bimol Akoijam on Tuesday raised serious concerns in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377 over the ongoing Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant organisations.
He urged the Union government to review the pact and consider ending it if signatory groups are found to be involved in extortion or other unlawful activities.
Earlier, Akoijam had submitted a formal notice on August 7, citing rampant highway extortion and the alleged involvement of certain SoO-bound groups in criminal activities, including the abduction and killing of six Liangmei civilians.
He urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to examine compliance with the agreement and take strict action, including ending the pact, wherever violations are established.
Political and civil tensions surrounding the tripartite SoO agreement in Manipur have intensified following allegations linking groups under the ceasefire pact to highway extortion, abduction and the killing of civilians.
The issue gained renewed attention after the formal notice was submitted on August 7. Lawmakers and state officials have raised concerns over alleged violations of the ground rules by groups operating under the ceasefire framework.
Lawmakers also attempted to raise the escalating violence in the hill areas during Zero Hour. They sought an immediate discussion on the safety of citizens and the accountability of armed groups under the SoO pact. However, the House was adjourned before the matter could be formally raised.
Following the development, leaders urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to review the 2008 ceasefire arrangement. They said that if investigations establish violations, including highway extortion and other serious crimes, the MHA should take strict action, including ending the agreement with the groups involved.
The immediate trigger for the public outcry was the alleged abduction and killing of six Naga villagers from Kangpokpi district. The victims went missing after they were allegedly taken from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13, triggering widespread concern and anger.
During a media briefing in Imphal, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho publicly identified the Kuki National Front-Presidential (KNF-P), a group operating under the SoO framework, as allegedly responsible for the abduction and killings. Describing the incident as a serious crime, Dikho said the Union government is responsible for regulating and enforcing the agreement with SoO signatories.
He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, take action against rogue elements and review the agreement, which he alleged was being misused by militant factions.
The killings triggered a strong reaction across the state. The United Naga Council (UNC) and other Naga civil society organisations launched protests and highway blockades. They demanded the abrogation of the SoO pact with Kuki militant groups and accountability for those responsible.
Amid concerns over possible tensions between communities, state leaders appealed for calm and restraint. Deputy Chief Minister Dikho urged the Naga community and the general public not to generalise the alleged actions of individual militant groups to the wider Kuki community.
Following the blockades, state officials and representatives of the UNC held discussions to ease tensions and address concerns over enforcement of the SoO ground rules.
The tripartite SoO agreement was signed in August 2008 between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Manipur government and umbrella organisations representing Kuki-Zo militants, including the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United Peoples’ Front (UPF).
The agreement was intended to halt hostilities, confine cadres to designated camps and facilitate political dialogue. However, the pact has faced growing strain, particularly since the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023.
The state government had previously moved to withdraw from the arrangement with certain factions over alleged violations of the ground rules.