Manipur People's Party demands end to Kuki militant ceasefire

Imphal: The Manipur People's Party (MPP) wants the BJP-led NDA government to kill the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki armed groups. General Secretary Karamjit Arambam issued the statement this week. The party claims these groups keep illegal weapons and participate in violence despite the pact. It wants law enforcement to stop targeting local village guards, known as Khunngakpas, while ignoring the actions of protected militant factions.

The MPP calls this selective enforcement a form of state bias. It claims this approach fuels ethnic tension across the region. Founded in 1968, the party led the state government during three separate terms between 1972 and 1992. It now argues the state must rely on neutral security institutions. The party cited the Supreme Court ruling in Nandini Sundar v. State of Chhattisgarh to argue against using armed tribal groups for counter-insurgency. "The state holds a constitutional mandate to protect its citizens through accountable security institutions rather than outsourcing security responsibilities to ethnic armed groups," the MPP stated.

The group submitted four specific demands to the administration. These include the total cancellation of the SoO agreement and the immediate disarmament of militant groups. They also demand an end to the prosecution of village volunteers and a formal rehabilitation plan for them. Finally, the party wants a commitment to democratic reconciliation. Leaders pointed to a 1972 precedent where the party released 55 political prisoners to foster peace. They insist these demands aim to restore the rule of law rather than target any single ethnic group.