Despite hiccups on camps relocation, slashing number of SoO camps
MHA, Kuki militants agree on SoO renewal
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 05 2025: Officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and leaders of Kuki armed groups held another round of talks at Delhi on July 4, 2025 on whether the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement should be renewed or not.

Even though the talks held earlier were inconclusive, the meeting held yesterday agreed on renewal of the SoO agreement yet there are still disagreements on certain points, well placed sources said.

The SoO agreement was a tripartite agreement involving the Kuki armed groups, the Government of India and the Government of Manipur until the Government of Manipur pulled out of the agreement in 2023 .

In the meantime, several rounds of political dialogue were held.

However, not a single representative of the Government of Manipur was present in the recent talks.

As such, the recent talks were confined to the MHA and the Kuki armed groups.

The MHA officials and the leaders of Kuki armed groups broadly agreed on renewal of the SoO agreement at the latest round of talks held yesterday.

But the Kuki armed groups operating in Churachandpur were not receptive to the question of SoO designated camps to be relocated to sites far away from Meitei inhabited areas of Churachandpur and cutting the number of SoO designated camps, said the sources.

Nonetheless, Kuki armed groups operating in Kangpokpi district and other parts of Manipur showed their willingness to accept the terms laid down by the MHA .

Apart from opposing the idea of cutting down the number of SoO designated camps, the Kuki armed groups operating in Churachandpur do not want to let even a single Meitei village exist in Churachandpur district, said the sources.

Notably, there are five to six designated camps of Kuki armed groups close to Meitei villages in Churachandpur district.

The Kuki armed groups have been obdurately contending that they would not relocate these designated camps, said the sources.

The talks held yesterday agreed on opening National Highways to all communities and surrender of looted arms.

As agreed between the MHA and the Kuki armed groups, there shall be free movement of all communities on the National Highways shortly.

Another round of talks would be held soon and necessary measures would be initiated to open the National Highways, said the sources.

However, it is not yet clear under what modality the Government of India and the Kuki armed groups would seal a deal on renewal of the SoO agreement given the fact that the Government of Manipur has withdrawn from the agreement, the sources added.

Representatives of both KNO and UPF were present at the meeting held on Friday while the MHA team comprised its officials as well as Intelligence Bureau officials.

At the time of signing the SoO agreement in 2008, UPF and KNO had a total of around 2,200 cadres and they were accommodated in 14 designated camps.

The cadres are entitled to a monthly stipend of Rs 6000 each.

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