Kuki groups talk tough ahead of PM’s proposed Manipur visit

Talks between the Union Home Ministry and Kuki-Zo Suspension of Operations (SoO) insurgent groups ended in a stalemate on Wednesday and will continue on Thursday, sources said.

The discussions, part of the Centre’s ongoing efforts to restore peace in violence-hit Manipur, focused mainly on reopening strategic national highways and reducing the number of SoO camps in Meitei-dominated areas.

The meeting took place amid speculation over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s possible visit to Manipur in the second week of September. Sources, however, said there was no clarity yet, even though he is scheduled to visit neighbouring Mizoram on September 13 to inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang railway line.

According to officials, representatives of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) and SoO groups met Home Ministry officials separately. But no breakthrough was achieved on key issues such as reopening NH-2 and NH-37, which pass through Kuki-dominated areas and connect the Imphal valley, home to the majority Meitei population. Despite Home Minister Amit Shah’s directions earlier this year, the highways have remained blocked to Meitei traffic for nearly two years, severely affecting the supply of essential commodities in Manipur and neighbouring Nagaland.

Another unresolved issue was the reduction of SoO camps along Meitei-dominated areas. Talks on this are expected to continue tomorrow. The extension of the SoO agreement — on hold since the Manipur Government withdrew from the tripartite pact on February 29 — also came up for discussion.

Meanwhile, the Manipur BJP said it had not received any official communication about Modi’s visit. State party general secretary K Saratkumar told mediapersons: “We still have not received any official directives concerning Modi’s visit. The itinerary and other details are yet to be shared with us.”

If confirmed, this would be Modi’s first trip to Manipur in more than two years. The BJP’s state unit has expressed hope that his presence could help pave the way for lasting peace.

Last week, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel chaired a meeting in Imphal to review preparations for a proposed VVIP visit, instructing police to ensure security arrangements in line with the “blue book” at venues, including Kangla in Imphal and Peace Ground in Churachandpur.