NEW DELHI, Dec 27: The Central Government and the Manipur Government on Tuesday entered into a cessation of operation agreement with the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), an armed insurgent group, which agreed to give up violence and join the peaceful democratic process.
Representatives of the armed group, which had been active for more than a decade, agreed to “abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by law of the land.”
In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of an ‘insurgency-free and prosperous Northeast’ and under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Government of India and the Government of Manipur entered into a cessation of operation agreement in New Delhi with ZUF.
“The agreement provides for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the armed cadres. A Joint Monitoring Group will be constituted to oversee the enforcement of the agreed ground rules,” the MHA said. This will be a significant boost to the peace process in Manipur, the statement said.
The agreement was signed by senior home ministry officials and the government of Manipur and the representatives of ZUF in presence of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
(Manas Dasgupta)