The Centre and Manipur government on 27 December entered into a Cessation of Operation Agreement with the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), a Manipur insurgent group, that was active for more than a decade. The group agreed to give up violence and join the democratic process.

“In yet another milestone, the Government of India & the Government of Manipur signed a ‘Cessation of Operation’ Agreement New Delhi with Zeliangrong United Front that has been active for more than a decade. This will be a significant boost to the peace process in Manipur,” the Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh said in a tweet on 27 December.

The signing of the agreement was informed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through a press release dated 27 December.

“Government of India and the Government of Manipur entered into a Cessation of Operation Agreement in Delhi today with the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) that had been active for more than a decade,” the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in the press release.

“This will be a significant boost to the peace process in Manipur. The agreement was signed by senior officers of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Govt of Manipur and the representatives of ZUF in the presence of the Manipur CM N Biren Singh,” the MHA further said.

“Representatives of the armed group agreed to abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by the law of the land. The agreement provides for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the armed cadres,” the MHA added.

A joint monitoring group will also be constituted to oversee the enforcement of the agreed ground rules under the accord.