The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), the apex body representing the Thadou tribal community, has called on the Central and state governments to immediately abrogate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki groups, citing ongoing atrocities and threats to India’s territorial integrity. In a detailed 35-page memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, TIM described the SoO pact as a colonial construct and a longstanding policy error that has failed to deliver peace. The memorandum stresses that the Thadou people are a distinct ethnic group and should not be subsumed under the broader “Kuki” identity.
TIM alleges that over two decades, the SoO agreement has effectively allowed militant outfits, including the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and its affiliates, to operate with impunity. The body cites instances of targeted violence, persecution, and cultural suppression against the Thadou community, as well as electoral malpractice, arms smuggling, and drug trafficking. The memorandum also raises concerns about links between Kuki groups and anti-India separatist movements abroad, referencing a 2023 viral video showing Kuki representatives aligning with pro-Khalistan elements in Canada. Specific incidents highlighted include the role of KNO cadres during the May 3, 2023, Manipur violence in Torbung-Bangla, and the recent murder of Pu Nehkam Jomhao, Chairman of the Thadou Literature Society, in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on August 30, 2025, allegedly for defending Thadou identity.
TIM argued that the continuation of the SoO agreement undermines democratic institutions and constitutional authority, granting militants undue political cover through participation in the Joint Monitoring Group. The memorandum urged the government to immediately terminate the pact, restore civil authority in affected areas, and safeguard the rights and security of the Thadou and other impacted communities.
