SoO pact with Kuki groups extended
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, March 07 2022:
The Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with Kuki militant groups in Manipur under the umbrella of United People s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organization (KNO) has been extended for one more year.
The SoO was due to expire on February 28.The extension has come into effect from March 1 till February 28, 2023 .
It was extended for the 14th time based on mutual understanding of all the parties concerned in a meeting held in New Delhi on Monday.
The ground rules remain unchanged.
The tripartite meet held in New Delhi with the representatives of governments of India and Manipur was attended by UPF delegates led by its spokesperson Aaron Kipgen and KNO members led by its spokesperson Seilen Haokip.
Ashutosh Kumar Sinha, additional Director General of Police (intelligence), represented the Government of Manipur while Piyush Goyal, Addl secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs, represented the Government of India during the tripartite meeting.
It may be recalled that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts ahead of the state assembly elections recently, had promised to hold peace talks with all Kuki militant groups to resolve their issue in the next five years if they voted BJP to power.
During the election rally in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, the Union Home Minister also said that just as the problem of Bodo militancy was solved in the neighbouring Assam, "no Kuki youth will have to carry arms anymore as their problem will also be solved" .