Condemning the reported killing and beheading of Liangmai Naga villager Ajinpon Ringkangmai on October 10, the MPP has sought an impartial investigation, stronger India-Myanmar border security and accountability for cross-border violence.
BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI/ October 14 -The Manipur People’s Party (MPP) on Wednesday demanded the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with armed groups, accusing the Union government of pursuing a “divide and rule” policy that has aggravated ethnic divisions in Manipur.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Club of India, MPP spokesperson Dr. Seram Rojesh said the SoO framework had failed to restore peace and demanded the complete, lawful and verifiable disarmament of all armed groups operating under the agreement.
The party also rejected proposed “Three-State” and “Three-Council” administrative arrangements, warning that such models would undermine Manipur’s territorial integrity and institutionalise ethnic segregation.
The MPP called on the Centre to adopt a comprehensive security and rehabilitation strategy, arguing that lasting peace would remain elusive without disarming armed groups, ensuring accountability for violence and enabling displaced families to return home.
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MPP Condemns Killing of Liangmai Naga Villager
The party strongly condemned the October 10 killing and reported beheading of Liangmai Naga villager Ajinpon Ringkangmai, allegedly by the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B).
Linking the incident to reported attacks on Tangkhul Naga villages in Kamjong district earlier this year, the MPP expressed concern over cross-border militant activity and the vulnerability of communities living along the India-Myanmar border.
It demanded an impartial investigation into Ringkangmai’s killing and stronger security measures to prevent armed groups from operating across the international boundary.
The party questioned the Centre’s response to violence affecting border communities and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Allegations of Insurgent Groups Influencing Elections
The MPP also alleged that armed groups operating under the SoO framework had been used to intimidate voters and influence electoral outcomes. It warned against the alleged use of armed mobilisation to advance political interests or pit insurgent groups against one another or against rival communities.
Invoking the Salwa Judum experience in Chhattisgarh as a cautionary example, the party argued that the use of armed groups in political or security strategies could deepen conflict and undermine democratic institutions.
These allegations were made by the MPP and would require independent verification.
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Demands Removal of Movement Restrictions
Opposing arrangements that could formalise ethnic separation, the party called for the removal of restrictions around buffer and sensitive zones that impede movement between communities.
According to the MPP, such restrictions prevent people from accessing healthcare, essential services and public institutions across areas divided by the conflict. It argued that restoring freedom of movement was necessary to rebuild trust and enable communities to resume normal social and economic interactions.
The party also demanded the immediate, safe and dignified return of all internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original homes, rejecting prolonged dependence on relief camps as a substitute for rehabilitation.
Citing its own figures, the MPP claimed that more than 300 people had been killed and around 40,000 displaced since the ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. The figures were presented by the party and were not independently verified in its statement.
MPP’s Demands to the Centre
In its memorandum to the Union government, the party called for:
- Immediate abrogation of the SoO agreement and verifiable disarmament of armed groups covered by the framework.
- An impartial and time-bound investigation into Ringkangmai’s killing and attacks on civilians in border areas.
- Stronger security along the India-Myanmar border to prevent cross-border militant activity.
- Removal of movement restrictions that impede access to public institutions and essential services.
- Rejection of administrative arrangements that, in the party’s view, threaten Manipur’s territorial integrity.
- Legal accountability for those responsible for killings, sexual violence, abductions and arson.
- Safe and dignified rehabilitation of displaced families in their original homes.
The MPP maintained that peace in Manipur could not be achieved through arrangements that perpetuate ethnic divisions or leave armed groups beyond effective accountability. It urged the Centre to prioritise disarmament, civilian security and the restoration of normal life across the state.
