Guwahati, Sept 4: In a major breakthrough, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) on Thursday announced the reopening of National Highway-02 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods, marking a step forward in easing the prolonged blockade and restoring normalcy in Manipur.
The decision followed a series of meetings in New Delhi between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a KZC delegation. The council has assured full cooperation with security forces deployed by the Government of India to maintain peace along the highway.
On the same day, a tripartite meeting was held between representatives of the MHA, Government of Manipur, Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and United People’s Front (UPF). The talks concluded with the signing of a revised Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement, effective immediately for one year.
The renewed ground rules reaffirm:
Preservation of Manipur’s territorial integrity.
Commitment to a negotiated solution for lasting peace.
As part of the revised terms, KNO and UPF agreed to:
Relocate seven designated camps away from conflict-prone zones.
Reduce the number of designated camps.
Deposit weapons with nearby CRPF/BSF camps.
Allow stringent verification of cadres to exclude foreign nationals.
A Joint Monitoring Group will oversee the implementation, with strict action against violations, including a possible review of the SoO.
 on Thursday announced the reopening of National Highway-02 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods, marking a step forward in easing the prolonged blockade and restoring normalcy in Manipur.){kind=link}