Manipur militants sign truce

A Suspension of Operation has been signed between the Manipur government and  two militant organisations based out of Manipur.

United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) and Pankan Re-Unification Army (PRA), under the umbrella of the Kookie National Organisation and operating in Moreh (border line of Manipur) and Jiribam sub divisions of Manipur joined the list of signatories of suspension of Operation (SoO), a tripartite agreement involving the state government and central government.

The signing ceremony was held on Saturday at the banquet hall of the Manipur Police Officers' Club. The Union government was represented by Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs while the Chief secretary DS Poonia of Manipur and DGP AK Parashar of Manipur signed the agreement with the outfits on behalf of the state. 95 cadres of the UTLA and 22 of the PRA were also present at the ceremony.

The signing of the SoO will discourage subversive activities and help to pave the way for political dialogue, feels Singh. He further informed that all the outfits who sign SoO agreement with the government will be accommodated in already existing designated camp in Churachandpur.

There are 16 designated camps of these underground outfits in the state, at Senapati, Chandel and Churachandpur districts, including one camp at 7th Manipur Rifles and kept under protection of Inspector General of the Assam Rifles.

With the present signings, the number of outfits who have signed such SoSs has gone up to 21. It may be mentioned that, in a historic move initiated by the government, cadres of different SoO signatory outfits were for the first time allowed to practise the universal adult franchise in the recently held election but could not cast their votes due to non arrival of polling officials.