IMPHAL, March 24 � After 19 Kuki militant groups signed Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the State Government three years ago, two more Kuki militant groups United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) and Pakan Reunification Army (PRA) signed the SoO pact with the government today. UTLA is based in Manipur�s Jiribam sub-division bordering Assam, while Moreh town in Chandel district bordering Myanmar is said to be PRA's stronghold.
Joint Secretary (North East) Sambhu Singh of Ministry of Home Affairs soon after signing the SoO at 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles today, said that altogether 95 UTLA and 22 PRA cadres will be housed in the existing designated camps.
Presently around 1,500 cadres of 19 Kuki militant groups operating in Manipur under the banner of Kuki National Organisation(KNO)and the United People�s Front (UPF) which have already signed SoO, a tripartite agreement with the State and Central Government in 2009, have been camping at 11 designated camps. The senior MHA official also confirmed the receipt of 72 weapons including 55 from UTLA and 22 from PRA.
