The Alarming Impunity of SoO Insurgents in Kuki Areas

The recent attack on the office of Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Prabhakar in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district has laid bare the impunity with which armed insurgents under Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements, operate in Kuki-dominated areas. Videos of the incident circulating online reveal the presence of heavily armed combatants actively participating in what should have been a civilian protest. This alarming situation raises urgent questions about the role of security forces and the fragility of governance in these volatile regions.
The SoO agreements were conceived as a means to facilitate dialogue with insurgent groups, providing a temporary cessation of hostilities to foster peace. However, the evident misuse of this arrangement—with insurgents blatantly flouting the rule of law and participating in violent acts—has turned these agreements into a double-edged sword. The videos of the Kangpokpi attack underline a disturbing reality: these groups have exploited the operational leniency afforded to them under the guise of peace talks.
This unchecked impunity is not a sudden development. It is the byproduct of years of leniency shown by security forces, who, for reasons that range from political directives to operational constraints, have allowed these groups to consolidate their power. This scene of armed men coming out and taking part in arson and attack on government installations became the trigger of the present conflict on May 3, 2023. The creation of bunkers and the visible presence of automatic weapons in buffer zones are not overnight phenomena. These are outcomes of a calculated and systematic exploitation of the gaps in enforcement or they have been allowed by certain organs of security forces while other branches of security are not allowing it.
Such laxity, which was shown earlier, has not only emboldened these groups but also alienates other communities, deepening the ethnic divide in Manipur. The Meitei community, for instance, views this perceived impunity as a sign of preferential treatment, exacerbating tensions and fueling mistrust. This distrust feeds into the larger cycle of violence, as seen in the ethnic clashes that have plagued the state since May 2023, leaving over 250 dead and displacing thousands.
The security establishment must bear some accountability. Allowing insurgents to operate unchecked in the name of peace talks undermines the state’s authority and creates an uneven playing field for those advocating non-violent solutions. While the SoO agreements aim to build trust, their current implementation undermines this very objective.
The government must act decisively to review and revise these agreements. Security forces need clear directives to uphold the rule of law uniformly, ensuring that no group, regardless of their affiliation, is above accountability. Without such measures, the cycle of impunity and violence will continue to escalate, further destabilizing Manipur and tarnishing the credibility of peace efforts.
The time for complacency has passed. Strong, decisive actions are needed to restore faith in the state’s ability to govern and protect its people. Only then can Manipur hope to emerge from the shadows of violence and division into a future of unity and peace.