Two Kuki groups to sign pact with govt

IMPHAL: Giving a fillip to the government's frequent bids to resolve the insurgency problem, two Kuki militant groups - United Tribal Liberation Army (Utla) and Pakan Reunification Army (PRA) operating in Manipur - have come forward to sign the Suspension of Operation (SOO) with the government.

Altogether 19 Kuki militant groups operating in Manipur under two apex bodies and a valley based-group have already signed SOO, a tripartite agreement with the state and central government.

Utla and PRA will sign the agreement at the banquet hall of 1st BN Manipur Rifles in the heart of Imphal on Saturday morning , an official said. He added that joint secretary (Home) for northeast Sambhu Singh is already in the state capital to take stock of the development.

Shambu Singh, who discussed the matter with senior official of the state government, will append his signature on the Soo agreement on behalf of the Centre, a source added. UTLA is based in Jiribam sub-division bordering Assam, while Moreh town in Chandel district bordering Myanamr is PRA's stronghold.

On October 27 last year, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, felicitated a large number of Utla cadres, including its president and general secretary, in a formal 'home coming' ceremony at 1st BN Manipur Rifles.

In his address to the assembly a few days ago, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said the tripartite agreement with KCP (MC) Lallumba group, the first "valley -based" militant group to enter into agreement , was renewed for another year to facilitate rehabilitation of cadres.

The SOO agreement with Kuki groups under Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) was also renewed for one more year, the governor said. He added that approximately 1500 cadres of these outfits have shifted to 11 designated camps.

Security forces have acknowledged improvement in law and order in the five hill districts following signing of the agreement in 2009 and meetings of the joint monitoring group are held frequently to ensure that Soo groups abide by the agreed ground rules, he added.