1) Why in the news and what has changed now

The Union Home Ministry has renewed the tripartite “Suspension of Operations” (SoO) for one year with two umbrella Kuki–Zo groupings—the Kuki National Organization (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF)—with stricter ground rules.

• The Government has also announced the resumption of “free movement” on National Highway-2 (Dimapur–Imphal) to normalise supplies and travel. These steps aim to calm tensions after two years of unrest. At the same time, some local groups have questioned parts of these decisions, so movement remains cautious on sensitive stretches.
• In parallel, Naga civil bodies have opposed ending the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with Myanmar and the push for border fencing, saying it harms long-standing cross-border ties and livelihoods.

Key points in the renewed SoO

• No violence or extortion, no fresh recruitment, no ambushes or intimidation

• Weapons locked in designated camps; movement of cadres only with permission

• Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) to track compliance; violations may lead to review or termination

• Dialogue to continue towards a political settlement while respecting Manipur’s territorial integrity

2) People, place, and resources: who lives where and what is at stake

Manipur is a valley surrounded by hills. The Imphal Valley is small (about one-tenth of the area) but densely populated and politically central. The hill districts cover most of the state and are home to many tribal communities.

Communities at a glance

• Meitei: mostly in the valley; large share of population and representation

• Kuki–Zo tribes: largely in the southern and western hills; several groups under KNO and UPF in SoO

• Naga tribes: mainly in the northern and eastern hills; have their own apex bodies and a separate peace track with the Union Government

• Meitei Pangal (Muslim): mainly in the valley; a recognised minority

Why land, water, and roads matter

• Land and forest rights shape farming, bamboo, timber, and access to resources

• Loktak Lake (with floating phumdis) and Keibul Lamjao National Park (home of the Sangai deer) are ecological and tourism anchors

• NH-2 (Dimapur–Imphal) and NH-37 (Jiribam–Imphal) are lifelines for fuel, food, medicines, and daily supplies

• The Myanmar border affects migration, informal trade, and security; communities on both sides have kinship ties

Manipur physical

3) How we reached the present conflict: a short timeline

• 1949 merger and early decades: insurgent groups rose in both valley and hills over identity, autonomy, and development

• 1972 statehood: cycles of militancy and periods of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in disturbed areas

• Mid-2000s onward: SoO with Kuki–Zo groups (formalised in 2008) to reduce violence while talks continued

• Parallel Naga peace process: separate agreements and frameworks with the Union Government

• May 2023 violence: protests and counter-mobilisations led to large-scale clashes, arson, deaths, and displacement; internet curbs; rise of “village defence” and vigilante formations. By late 2024, official deaths crossed 250, and over 50,000 people remained displaced well into 2025

• 2024–25 border hardening: Union Government moved to end or suspend the FMR (earlier allowed border residents to travel up to 16 km without a visa) and pushed border fencing. Naga bodies opposed these steps. In 2025, the SoO was renewed with tighter conditions, and authorities announced free movement on NH-2, though ground realities remain mixed

Manipur Insurgency

4) Internal security and border issues: why peace is still fragile

• Insurgent groups and designated camps
  KNO and UPF cadres are to stay in designated camps, with weapons under joint custody of security forces. Disputes often arise over camp locations, patrol routes, and alleged violations. The renewed SoO promises stricter separation of camps from civilian and highway belts with closer monitoring.
• Highways as choke points
  When NH-2 or NH-37 is blocked or seen as unsafe, the valley economy suffers at once. Orders to reopen matter only if backed by escorts, helplines, real-time travel advisories, and community buy-in.
• Border with Myanmar
  Ending or suspending the FMR and accelerating fencing are meant to check arms, drugs, and illegal crossings. Border communities, however, say hard fencing and strict passes cut family ties, small trade, and seasonal movement. A middle path is a legal border-pass system, smart fencing in hotspots, and better roads, lighting, and joint patrols.
• Policing and public trust
  A common worry is bias in enforcement. Confidence rises when there are mixed investigation teams (state and central), time-bound probes, witness protection, and transparent updates on major cases.

5) Accords and policy steps now on the table

Renewed SoO (one year, stricter rules)

• Renounce violence; no extortion or fresh recruitment

• Weapons under lock in camps; movement only with permission

• Joint Monitoring Group to enforce rules; the pact can be reviewed or terminated if violated

• Dialogue roadmap towards a political settlement; public emphasis on Manipur’s territorial integrity

NH-2 “free movement”

• Union and state have signalled normal traffic. On the ground, escorts and advisories still operate in sensitive belts. The real test is predictably safe travel for ordinary citizens.

Border policy choices

• FMR suspension and fencing push continue; Naga bodies have protested via non-cooperation and embargo calls. A border-pass system that respects local realities can soften the impact while meeting security goals.

6) Challenges and the way forward: near-term fixes and longer reforms

Immediate steps (next 3–6 months)

• Show SoO discipline on the ground

  • Shift camps away from populated or highway zones

  • Inventory and seal weapons in joint custody

  • Publish monthly compliance notes to build trust

• Make highways predictably safe

  • Run escorted convoys through sensitive stretches

  • Start a 24×7 helpline and SOS system for travellers and truckers

  • Issue real-time advisories via district offices, radio, and television

• Relief, return, and dignity

  • Fast-track compensation, house rebuilding, school reopening, and trauma care

  • Support voluntary return where safe; else plan permanent resettlement with consent

Medium to long term (1–5 years)

• Border management with a human face

  • Smart fencing in hotspots; legal border-passes for genuine local travel

  • Better roads, lighting, and joint patrols; tighten action on arms and drug routes without hurting legitimate livelihoods

• Time-boxed political dialogue

  • Under the renewed SoO, open structured talks on local autonomy, administration, land, and policing with map-based discussions for overlaps; keep territorial integrity as the baseline

• Rule of law and justice

  • Mixed investigation teams, special prosecutors, witness protection, and quarterly public updates on major cases

• Shared development for hills and valley

  • Invest in agro-forestry, bamboo value chains, homestays and eco-tourism around Loktak, local skill hubs, and youth jobs

  • Spread projects evenly and ensure community participation so benefits feel fair

Conclusion
Orders alone cannot heal Manipur. The state needs verifiable ceasefire discipline, safe highways, fair relief and justice, sensitive border rules, and patient political dialogue that gives every community a real stake in peace.

One-line wrap
Secure borders, open roads, verified ceasefires, and a fair deal for all—this is the practical path to a calmer Manipur.

Mains Practice (200–250 words)
Question: “Manipur’s unrest is a layered mix of identity, geography, and border governance.” Discuss how the renewed Suspension of Operations and efforts to reopen National Highway-2 can help restore normalcy. What safeguards are needed to balance security, community rights, and Manipur’s territorial integrity?
Hints: Explain the renewed SoO (weapons under lock, camp relocation, Joint Monitoring Group, territorial-integrity clause). Show why NH-2 is a lifeline and how reopening needs escorts, helplines, and real-time advisories plus local buy-in. Balance security with rights through a border-pass system and smart fencing. Add justice and relief (rehabilitation of displaced persons, special prosecutors, witness protection). Argue for time-boxed political talks and even-spread development for hills and valley.