Manipur government warns KNO and UPF of legal and penal action if SoO cadres violate Ground Rules, carry weapons outside camps or join unlawful activities.
Imphal, August 7: The Manipur government has warned Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) that disciplinary and penal action could follow if cadres under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement are found violating the agreement’s Ground Rules.
In a letter addressed to the chairmen/secretaries of KNO and UPF on August 7, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) and Chairman of the Joint Monitoring Group, N Ashok Kumar, referred to allegations that cadres of Kuki-Zomi groups covered by the SoO agreement were involved in recent ethnic clashes in the state.
The government, however, noted that investigations into the incidents were still being conducted by the concerned agencies.
“While investigation into such incidents are underway,” the letter stated, the allegations, if established, would undermine the purpose of the SoO agreements between the militant groups and the governments of India and Manipur.
According to the letter, the allegations include claims that cadres had deserted designated camps, moved into conflict-affected areas while carrying weapons and participated in attacks.
The government described such alleged conduct as a breach of the terms of the agreement and said it raised questions over the SoO arrangement.
The letter further emphasised that any cadre found violating the Ground Rules, carrying weapons outside a designated camp or engaging in unlawful activities would be dealt with under the law.
The government also warned that action could extend beyond individual cadres if their involvement was found to have occurred with the “connivance” of the leadership of the concerned militant group.
“Involvement in such activities, is found to be with the connivance of the leadership of the militant group, the Government will be constrained to consider penal action against the group itself,” the letter stated.
The SoO arrangement places designated armed groups under agreed Ground Rules governing the conduct and movement of their cadres while negotiations with the government continue.
The latest warning comes amid continuing scrutiny of the conduct of groups operating under the SoO framework during the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
