Centre Signs Peace Agreement With UNLF, Manipur Insurgent Group Active Since 1964

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the signing of the peace agreement with Manipur-based insurgent group UNLF is a milestone in Northeast's history.

UNLF cadres lay down arms during the signing of the peace treaty.

Source : X@AmitShah

In a historic move, the Centre and the Government of Manipur signed a peace agreement with the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest valley-based armed insurgent group of Manipur, in New Delhi on Wednesday. The UNLF was formed on November 24, 1964, and had been operating both within and outside the Indian Territory till now.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi by senior officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Government of Manipur and representatives of the United National Liberation Front. The agreement is expected to give a fillip to usher in a new era of peace in the northeastern region of India in general and Manipur in particular, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a press release.

On signing of the peace agreement with UNLF, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that a historic milestone has been achieved.

Taking to social media platform X, Union Home Minister Shah said, “It is a landmark achievement in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji's vision of all-inclusive development and providing a better future to the youths in northeast India.”

The Home Minister said that he welcomed the UNLF to participate in the democratic processes of the country and wished them the best in their journey on the path of peace and progress.

The government of India has signed agreements with several armed groups in the northeastern region since 2014 to end militancy and promote development, the MHA release said.

While political settlements have been finalised with several ethnic armed groups of the northeast as part of conflict resolution initiatives of the Government of India, it is for the first time that a valley-based Manipuri armed group has agreed to return to the mainstream by renouncing violence and agreeing to honour the Constitution of India, it said.

Reacting to the development, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the signing of the peace agreement had been made possible by "the unwavering support and vision of Hon'ble PM Modi for a brighter and peaceful North-East". 

The agreement will not only bring an end to hostilities between UNLF and the security forces which have claimed several lives on both sides over the last more than half a century but will also provide an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community, the MHA release added.

The MHA release further said that it is hoped that the return of UNLF to the mainstream will also encourage other valley-based armed groups to participate in the peace process in due course. A Peace Monitoring Committee (PMC) will be constituted to oversee the enforcement of the agreed ground rules. The development is likely to be a significant step in restoring peace and normalcy in the princely state.