Imphal : Chief Minister N Biren Singh called on Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, a day after the after the K Pambei faction of the United National Liberation Front(UNLF) signed a peace pact with the centre.
Singh said he was extremely grateful to Home Minister for his commitment in working collaboratively for the betterment of Manipur and playing an instrumental role in bringing the UNLF to the mainstream through peace talks.
“His leadership and efforts have played a pivotal role in fostering reconciliation and paving the way for a more peaceful and united future in the Northeast,” Singh wrote on X.
The Chief Minister said a new era of peace and progress has dawned in Manipur after the Centre signed a peace pact with UNLF.
“The signing of the peace agreement with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) today in New Delhi was made possible under the able leadership of Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah ji,” the chief minister wrote on X on Wednesday.
“With his wisdom and continuous guidance, a new era of peace and progress dawns in Manipur. A chapter of growth and development now opens as many extend their faith and trust toward the BJP Government,” Singh added in his post.
On Wednesday, the UNLF signed the peace agreement in New Delhi in the presence of Home Secretary AK Bhalla, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka and Centre’s interlocutor AK Mishra.
This signing of the peace agreement comes days after a UNLF camp at Thanan in Myanmar, close to the Manipur border, was destroyed by Peoples Defence Force (PDF), an ethnic armed rebel group in Myanmar on November 22.
Five UNLF rebels were reportedly killed by the PDF rebels.
The UNLF was formed in November 24, 1964 under the leadership of Areambam Samrendra Singh with an aim to achieve independence and a socialist society.
In the 70s and the 80s, the militant group concentrated mainly on mobilisation and recruitment.
In 1990, the UNLF launched an armed struggle for the ‘liberation’ of Manipur from India. In the same year, it formed an armed wing called MPA.
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 3 this year, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to oppose the longstanding demand that the Meitei community be included in the list of the state’s Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Nearly 200 people have been killed since the ethnic clashes between the Meitei community and tribal Kuki-Zo community, on May 3. Several hundred people were injured and tens of thousands internally displaced in the violence, which is still ongoing in some locations.
