SoO Groups in Manipur Agree to Reduce Number of Designated Camps, Relocate Seven

PTI, August 8, 2026, Imphal: Manipur militant outfits under the SoO agreement on Saturday agreed to shift seven designated camps from conflict-prone areas and reduce their overall number, according to an official statement. The decision was taken at a tripartite meeting between representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the state government and two outfits, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF), in New Delhi.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a revised tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, with new terms and conditions, or ground rules, coming into effect from the day of signing for a period of one year, the statement said.

The SoO is a tripartite ceasefire framework involving the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki and Zomi militant outfits operating under the umbrella organisations KNO and UPF. The pact was first signed in 2008.

"A tripartite meeting among representatives of MHA, government of Manipur, and KNO and UPF was held at New Delhi today. The meeting concluded with the signing of a tripartite SoO agreement on re-negotiated terms and conditions (ground rules) to be effective from the day of signing of the agreement for a period of one year," it added.

The meeting also agreed on a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to the northeastern state.

"Among other provisions, the revised ground rules reiterated the territorial integrity of Manipur and the need for a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to the State of Manipur," the statement added.

It also said that "KNO and UPF have also agreed to relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict and reduce the number of designated camps" while relocating the weapons to the nearest CRPF/BSF camps.

SoO groups operate around 14 designated camps in the hill districts, particularly Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, and have around 2,200 cadres belonging to the KNO and UPF, according to official estimates.