On Tuesday, the Central government entered into a peace agreement with a rebel group from Manipur, signaling the group’s commitment to renounce violence and engage in the democratic process. The tripartite accord involved the Central government, the Manipur state government, and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), a rebel group predominantly active in Manipur.

In a noteworthy development, the Government of India and the Government of Manipur officially signed a ‘Cessation of Operation’ Agreement in New Delhi with the Zeliangrong United Front, an entity with more than a decade-long history of activity. This agreement is viewed as a substantial stride in advancing the peace process in Manipur.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) highlighted the alignment of this initiative with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Northeast free from insurgency and flourishing economically. Acting under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Central government, and the Manipur government formalized the cessation of operation agreement with the ZUF in New Delhi.

The MHA emphasized the significance of this agreement for promoting peace in Manipur and disclosed that the signing ceremony included officials from the home ministry, the government of Manipur, and representatives of the ZUF, all in the presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

As part of the agreement, members of the armed group committed to forsake violence and participate in the lawful democratic process. Provisions were outlined for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the armed cadres, and the establishment of a joint monitoring group was proposed to oversee the enforcement of mutually agreed-upon ground rules, as stated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.