In a significant move towards restoring peace in Manipur, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has agreed to reopen National Highway-2, enabling free passage for commuters and essential supplies, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Thursday.
The decision comes after multiple rounds of talks in New Delhi between representatives of the MHA and the KZC. According to the ministry, the council has assured complete cooperation with central security forces deployed to safeguard the crucial highway, which connects Manipur with Nagaland and other parts of the Northeast.
“The Kuki-Zo Council has committed to working with the security forces to maintain peace along NH-2,” the MHA said in an official statement, emphasizing that the route serves as Manipur’s supply lifeline. The highway had remained blocked since the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities erupted in May 2023, resulting in widespread bloodshed, large-scale displacement, and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Officials in both New Delhi and Imphal believe the resumption of traffic on NH-2 will ease the flow of essential goods to affected areas and bring some relief to displaced families and those currently living in relief camps, ANI reported.
Alongside this development, the MHA also convened a tripartite meeting on Thursday with the Government of Manipur, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and the United People’s Front (UPF). The meeting culminated in the signing of a fresh Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement, re-negotiated with new ground rules. The agreement will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing.
The revised terms reaffirm the “territorial integrity of Manipur” and stress the importance of a “negotiated solution” to ensure durable peace in the state.
Under the new framework, KNO and UPF have agreed to:
Relocate seven designated camps from sensitive conflict zones,
Reduce the total number of camps,
Shift weapons storage to nearby CRPF and BSF facilities, and
Facilitate strict verification of cadres to identify and remove foreign nationals, if any.
The Centre said these steps mark not just a functional breakthrough but also a symbolic gesture towards rebuilding trust between all communities in the troubled state.
(With inputs from ANI)