New Delhi, October 14: The Manipur People’s Party (MPP) on Wednesday demanded the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework and the complete disarmament of armed groups operating under it, alleging that the Centre’s policy had deepened ethnic divisions and prolonged insecurity in Manipur.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi, MPP spokesperson Dr Seram Rojesh accused the BJP-led NDA government of pursuing a “divide and rule” policy and said accommodating ethnic armed groups had failed to ensure lasting peace in the state.
The party also opposed proposals for a Three-State or Three-Council arrangement, arguing that such measures could institutionalise ethnic divisions and undermine Manipur’s territorial integrity.
The MPP strongly condemned the reported killing and beheading of Liangmai Naga villager Ajinpon Ringkangmai on October 10, allegedly by the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B). It demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and effective measures to protect communities along the India-Myanmar border.
Referring to reported attacks on Tangkhul Naga villages in Kamjong district in May 2026, the party expressed concern over the security of border communities and alleged cross-border militant activity. The allegations regarding the perpetrators and circumstances of Ringkangmai’s killing require verification by investigating authorities.
The MPP also alleged that armed groups operating under the SoO framework had been used to influence electoral politics and intimidate voters. It called for an end to any policy that enables armed organisations to be used against rival groups or communities, citing the Salwa Judum episode in Chhattisgarh as a warning against state-supported armed mobilisation.
The party did not provide independent evidence to substantiate its allegations of electoral manipulation.
Calling for the restoration of safe and unrestricted movement across Manipur, the MPP said restrictions around buffer and sensitive zones continued to impede access to public institutions, healthcare, education and other essential services. It maintained that lasting peace would require equal access to public services, freedom of movement and a political settlement that safeguards the state’s territorial integrity.
The party also demanded the immediate, safe and dignified rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original homes and places of residence.
According to the MPP, more than 300 people have been killed and over 40,000 displaced since the violence began on May 3, 2023. The figures were cited in the party’s press release and were not independently verified.
The MPP said rehabilitation should go beyond relief camps and financial assistance, stressing that displaced families must be able to return home under adequate security arrangements. It also called for transparency regarding relevant judicial and investigative reports that it said had not been made public.
Among its other demands, the party sought accountability for killings, abductions, sexual violence, arson and attacks on religious places, along with effective protection of the India-Myanmar border against cross-border militant activity.
The MPP urged the Centre to take responsibility for restoring security, ensuring accountability and creating conditions for the safe return of displaced families. It said disarmament, equal rights, freedom of movement and peaceful coexistence among Manipur’s communities were essential for a lasting resolution to the crisis.