Manipur’s Kuki-Zo Council Reopens NH-2; Meitei Group Rejects Suspension of Operations Pact

Two influential Kuki-Zo groups – the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF) – have clarified that the reopening of National Highway-2 (Imphal–Dimapur via Kangpokpi) should not be seen as a sign of unrestricted movement between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas.

The highway has been at the center of tensions between the two communities amid the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, where buffer zones were established to prevent clashes.

Suspension of Operations agreement: What led to this?

The KNO and UPF, both of which command significant influence among the Kuki-Zo population, signed a fresh agreement with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to extend the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact. The renegotiated terms include:

• Upholding Manipur’s territorial integrity.

• Relocating designated camps away from sensitive or vulnerable areas.

• Engaging in structured, time-bound dialogue for peace and stability.

The groups described the pact as a “significant step toward restoring peace and political stability.” They underlined that the tripartite dialogue among the Centre, Manipur government, and Kuki-Zo groups is meant to address long-standing political and security issues in a structured manner.

Why is COCOMI objecting to the SoO?

After the signing of the pact, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), one of the largest Meitei civil society groups in Manipur, dismiised the signing of a Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the Kuki-Zo insurgent groups. It said that the decision “reflects an undemocratic and hegemonic imposition upon the indigenous people and its elected representatives of Manipur.”

COCOMI said the popularly elected Government of Manipur had, through a Cabinet decision on March 10, 2023, unanimously resolved to abrogate the SoO agreement.

In a statement on Friday (September 5, 2025), the Meitei group underlined that under the current President’s Rule, the administration is being run by an authority appointed from New Delhi, which lacks the legitimacy to represent the people of Manipur in letter and in spirit, adding that the decision to extend the SoO is illegitimate.

Did the Kuki-Zo groups block National Highway-2 earlier?

In their joint statement, the KNO and UPF denied claims that the Kuki-Zo community had blocked or closed the highway. They stressed that contrary to “misinformed narratives,” the highway had never been shut by their groups. However, they emphasized that the sanctity of buffer zones between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas must remain intact.

The group further added that securing the highway is the responsibility of central forces deployed in the region.

Meanwhile, KNO and UPF have reaffirmed their commitment to representing the people’s aspirations. In the longer term, they seek the creation of a Union Territory with a legislature for the Kuki-Zo people within the framework of the Indian Constitution, signaling that their demand for political autonomy remains on the table.

Manipur was placed under President’s Rule on February 13, 2025. Around 250 people have been killed and more than 60,000 people displaced from their homes since ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo people erupted in the State on May 3, 2023.