New Delhi: The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has agreed to reopen National Highway-02 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods. The decision comes after a series of discussions held over the past few days between officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a KZC delegation in New Delhi.
The Council has also committed to extending full cooperation with security forces deployed by the Government of India to maintain peace along the highway.
On the sidelines, a tripartite meeting was convened in New Delhi between representatives of the MHA, the Government of Manipur, and leaders of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF). The meeting concluded with the signing of a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement under revised terms and conditions, which will remain in force for one year from the date of signing.
The renegotiated ground rules reaffirmed the territorial integrity of Manipur and stressed the need for a negotiated settlement to ensure lasting peace and stability in the state. As part of the agreement, the KNO and UPF have committed to relocating seven designated camps away from conflict-prone areas, reducing the number of such camps, and moving weapons to the nearest CRPF or BSF camps. Security forces will also carry out strict physical verification of cadres to identify and delist any foreign nationals.
Going forward, a Joint Monitoring Group will oversee the enforcement of the revised ground rules. Officials have cautioned that violations will be dealt with firmly, including the possibility of reviewing the SoO Agreement.
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