Eleven militants arrested in Manipur in the last two days, including seven suspected militants of the Kuki National Army (KNA) The KNA is a signatory to the controversial suspension of operations (SoO) agreement. The frequency of arrests – at least those announced by the police on X (formerly Twitter) – has increased in recent weeks. The Kuki tribes and the Meiteis have been fighting since May 2023 over a range of issues such as land rights and political representation. The state government has been demanding to end the SoO agreement over allegations that SoO-linked militants have been taking part in the Manipur violence. The security forces will intensify operations to disarm people from both the warring communities and dismantle all illegal fortifications, the police said. The President’s Rule will ensure all are disarmed under the name of volunteering, police sources said, adding the militants are to stay at designated camps and their weapons kept in locked storage, to be monitored regularly. Some 24 Kuki-Zo militant groups come under two umbrella organisations for the purpose of negotiations – the KNO and the United People’s Front (UPF) led by the Zomi Revolutionary Army.
