What awaits the fate of suspension of operations agreement in Manipur?

As many as 2,266 cadres of the militant outfits which are under Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement are staying in different designated camps in Manipur’s hill regions however what lies ahead of them is uncertain.

However, the SOO agreement with the United People’s Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) KNO, which are a conglomerate of 23 underground outfits, signed an SoO agreement with the government on August 22, 2008, which expired in September this year. The agreement is renewed annually.

The state's majority Meitei community, however, has been opposing any extension of the SoO agreement with the Kuki militant outfits. The tripartite SoO agreement with Kuki-Zo militant groups was extended on September 4, 2025. Even Naga groups have opposed some designated camps in their vicinity and sought their replacement.


Manipur is going to assembly polls early next year and extension of Soo is an electoral issue. The Kuki groups want the extension of Soo agreements while the Meitei and Naga groups are opposed to it. Meiteis and Naga groups alleged the role of several Soo militants in the ongoing conflict in Manipur. These groups have on several occasions levelled allegations of Soo cadres engaged in violation of Soo terms and indulging in killing and abduction of people from Meitei and Naga community.

Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on October 23 this year said operations to arrest those engaged in the killing of three civilians at Nongshum were continuing. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on October 25 visited Sinai Camp, a designated camp of Suspension of Operations (SoO) militants in Kangpokpi District which was taken over by the security forces.

The Sinai camp was disarmed and taken over by the CRPF following joint operations conducted by the CoBRA Unit of CRPF, Manipur Police and other security agencies.

Govindas said three people had been arrested in connection with the killings and were suspected to belong to the Kuki National Front (KNF), although their faction had not been confirmed. The investigation is ongoing.

The home minister added this incident reflects clear violation of the SoO agreement despite its non-renewal.

Militants ambushed 14 Meitei men, killing three of them, when they were collecting firewood in Sunurok hills in Kangpokpi district on October 19.

Konthoujam had said SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups expired in the first week of September and had not been extended, citing public opposition to the continuation of the pact as a possible reason.

He said both the state and central governments were concerned about public sentiment against extending the agreement.

Govindas said security personnel found 18 people at the camp. Of them, only one was identified as a KNF cadre under the SoO arrangement, while the remaining 17 were not identified as SoO cadres. He said the 17 individuals had been detained and were to be formally arrested.

He added the expected number of SoO cadres was not present at the designated camp. However, he added that since the agreement had expired in the first week of September and had not been extended, the situation could not be treated as a violation of an active agreement.

A senior official in the Manipur government stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), representatives of Kuki-Zo groups under the SoO and officials of the Manipur government held a tripartite meeting in New Delhi in December last year.

The KNO and the UPF, in a joint statement had then said that discussions focused on the demand for a Union Territory with a Legislature for the Kuki-Zo tribal people in Manipur.

On March 3, 2022, former union minister and then Congress's Observer for Manipur, Jairam Ramesh alleged that Rs 16.63 Crore were paid to militant groups under Suspension of Operation in Manipur in the run up to the polls.

Addressing media persons in Imphal, he had said in a shocking violation of the Model of Conduct the Union Home Ministry & BJP State Government in Manipur released Rs 15.7 crores on 1.2.22 & further Rs 92.7 lakhs on 1.3.22 to banned militant groups under Suspension of SoO. This has made a mockery of elections in 4 districts.”

On February 26, 2022, SoO militant outfit KNO had resolved to extend support to all the BJP candidates for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election. They have issued a statement to this effect.

There are 10 ten Kuk- Zo MLAs in Manipur, seven are from the ruling BJP, two belong to the Kuki People’s Alliance and one is an Independent.

In 2023 KPA withdrew its support from the BJP-led state government. A seat has been vacant following the death of the Manipur MLA Vungzagin Valte who died in February this year. He was the first MLA who was a victim of the Manipur ethnic violence which broke out on May 3, 2023. Valte suffered multiple injuries when he was attacked by protesters in Imphal in May 2023.

The violence in Manipur which started largely in Kuki and Meitei areas in the last one year has engulfed the Naga dominated areas. There are Naga inhabited areas in Manipur which include Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel, and parts of Kangpokpi.

Security agencies claim that more than 50 people have been killed in ethnic clashes between the two tribal communities in the state since early this year.

At least 306 people have been killed, and 49 remain missing in the ethnic violence that has gripped Manipur since May 2023, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam told the state assembly on September 3, 2026.

More than 60,000 displaced after ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities on May 3, 2023. The violence erupted after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Manipur has been under President rule since February 13, 2025.

Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said that more than 60 people have died since early this year and the cycle of violence remains unchecked.

On September 27 this former chief minister N Biren Singh stated in X, "MORE THAN 60 DEATHS SINCE EARLY THIS YEAR, AND THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE CONTINUES UNCHECKED. How long are we going to keep counting bodies instead of holding those responsible accountable and bringing the deteriorating law and order situation under control?I extend my deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and the people of the affected villages. May the departed souls rest in peace."

Kuki groups had sought the ouster of Biren Singh and he was removed. On February 5, Yumnam Khemchand Singh led NDA government in Manipur won the floor test in Manipur assembly. However, the state is doing it with a handful of ministers. Khemchand assumed office on February 4. On February 5. On March 4, the chief minister allocated portfolios among the two Deputy Chief Ministers and two Cabinet Ministers, retaining most key departments with himself.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, Nemcha Kipgen and Konthoujam Govindas Singh belong to the BJP, while Losii Dikho and Khuraijam Loken Singh are from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the National People’s Party (NPP), respectively. The lone woman minister and BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen belongs to the Kuki community.

The strength of the council of ministers in Manipur is 12. Following the pressure and protest from valley-based Meitei organisations and Naga groups the proposed census exercise was deferred. The demand was implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur before any census activity was conducted in the state.

The hills account for 90% of the state’s area and 10% population while the valley occupies 10% land. Out of the 60 assembly seats, the valley accounts for 40 assembly seats.

In the valley, there are Hindu, non-tribal Meitei communities while the hills are inhabited largely by the Christian Naga and Kuki-Zomi communities. Naga to account for 10 assembly seats.

The party positions in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly were: BJP 37, National People’s Party (NPP) (6), Naga People’s Front (NPF) (5), Congress (5), Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) (2), JD(U) (1), and Independents (3), with one seat vacant.

NDA partners include BJP, NPP, NPF and JD(U) and three independents. Kuki-Zo tribal MLAs, including six from BJP as one is vacan along with all the leading organisations of the community, have been demanding a separate administration or a Union territory for the tribals in Manipur and remained away from attending assembly sessions since violence broke out on May 3, 2023. However, these MLAs have stated the recent sessions.

Declaration of Candidate

The declaration of candidature by Dr. Thangkhankhup Guite, the 33-year-old son of Thanglianpau Guite, president of the Zomi Reunification Organisation (ZRO), for the forthcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly election has created an interesting situation.

Dr. Guite announced his intention to contest the 56-Thanlon Assembly constituency at his father’s residence in Dorcas Veng Churachandpur district. He has not yet disclosed which political party he intends to join.

An MBBS graduate of Saraswati Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Guite is also the chief of Aibulon village in the Thanlon constituency.

His father, Thanglianpau Guite, heads the Zomi Reunification Organisation, which is associated with the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA). The ZRA is part of the United People’s Front (UPF), a conglomerate of underground organisations engaged in the SOO arrangement.

Manipur shares a long and historically porous international border with Myanmar. The political instability and armed conflict across the border have generated displacement and refugee movements into India’s northeastern states.

On September 7, 2026, Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam informed the House that a total of 24,475 illegal immigrants had been detected in the State so far. Out of these, 6,545 were detected in Kamjong district, 3,560 in Tengnoupal district and 14,370 in Chandel district.