Amit Shah has also said that all members of Kuki insurgent groups who had signed the Suspension of Operations agreement must return to their camps.
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has decided to take a tough stand on the ongoing tensions in Manipur, making it clear that the Centre will not consider the demand for a separate administration under Union Territory status in tribal-majority districts. In a high-level security meeting held in New Delhi, Shah conveyed this decision to Governor AK Bhalla, top Home Ministry officials, and senior officials from Manipur. Sources at the meeting said Shah was firm, stating that the demand put forward by the Kuki-Zo community was “non-negotiable” and must be rejected outright.
Shah’s response comes as Manipur continues to face unrest following ethnic violence that broke out in May last year. By rejecting the demand for a separate administration, Shah has signalled the Centre’s determination to preserve Manipur’s territorial integrity despite pressure from tribal groups and is being seen as a clear message to the concerned groups that no compromise will be made on the state’s unity.
After restoring normalcy in Kashmir, which faced decades of terrorism, significantly weakening Naxals in Central and Eastern India, and breaking the terror-narcotics nexus across India, Shah now faces a new challenge at India’s Eastern borders, which have a long history of separatist movements.
He has ordered that all members of Kuki insurgent groups who had signed the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre must return to their designated camps without exception. Shah warned that if these members were seen carrying weapons in public, they should face strict action. The SoO agreement, first signed in 2008, had been renewed regularly but expired in February. The decision not to extend it is seen as part of Shah’s stricter approach, signalling that the Centre will not allow armed groups to operate outside agreed conditions.
This came after The Committee on Tribal Unity, a Kuki organisation, rejected Shah’s directives to security forces to ensure free movement across Manipur for all communities from 8 March.
While reviewing the security situation in Manipur a fortnight after the imposition of the President’s rule in the state, Shah had said last week that “strict action should be taken against anyone attempting to create obstructions”.
In a meeting held by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), on 4 March, in which the group adopted at least eight resolutions that included its resolve against free movement in the Kuki-Zo areas until a resolution “that respects the community’s aspirations is reached.”
The organisation also said that the Kuki-Zo people do not wish to compromise on their demand for a separate administration comprising Kuki-majority areas in order to end the conflict involving the Meiteis.
COTU said that the fight for a separate territory will continue “through mobilisation, protests, and democratic resistance.”
Official sources said that Shah directed security forces to strengthen border surveillance along the Indo-Myanmar border. Concerned about unchecked movement from Myanmar, Shah instructed officials to ensure that individuals crossing into Manipur adhere to the one-week limit under the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system. This measure aims to curb potential security threats and prevent unauthorized stays.
In addition to security measures, Shah ordered urgent steps to restore religious sites — including temples, churches, and mosques — that were damaged during the violence. This move is seen as an attempt to promote peace and help communities recover from months of unrest.
After returning from Delhi, Governor Bhalla held a follow-up meeting with Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh, and security adviser Kuldeep Singh. Bhalla stressed the importance of implementing Shah’s directives without delay.