Sun Sep 07 21:36:45 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, signatories to a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Indian government, are accusing the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of misrepresenting the agreement’s terms. The groups, KNO and UPF, claim the PIB’s altered phrasing obscures the central focus of future talks: their demand for a Union Territory with a legislature for Kuki-Zo areas within Manipur. This has caused significant upset within the Kuki-Zo community, especially leading up to the Prime Minister’s planned visit. The SoO agreement, initially designed to quell Kuki-Naga clashes, has seen fluctuating status, with the Manipur government previously withdrawing from it. The Kuki-Zo groups’ demand for greater autonomy has evolved from a territorial council to a Union Territory following the ethnic violence that began in May 2023.

**News Article:**

**Kuki-Zo Groups Accuse PIB of Misrepresenting SoO Agreement, Sparking Uproar Ahead of PM’s Visit**

**New Delhi, September 8, 2025** – Kuki-Zo insurgent groups in Manipur, operating under a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Indian government, are alleging that the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has misrepresented the terms of the recently renewed pact. The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United Peoples Front (UPF) issued a statement Sunday accusing the PIB of distorting the agreement’s language in a way that undermines their key demand for a Union Territory with a legislature for Kuki-Zo inhabited regions of Manipur.

The groups claim that while the official agreement emphasizes a “tripartite dialogue…to pave the way for a negotiated political settlement,” the PIB instead emphasized a “need for a negotiated solution to bring peace and stability to the State of Manipur.” The KNO and UPF argue that the PIB’s rephrasing omits the core issue of their demand for a Union Territory, a demand that solidified after the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023.

“This twist by PIB does not figure anywhere in the SoO agreement signed between the MHA and the SoO group,” the statement read.

The groups are particularly concerned about the timing of the alleged misrepresentation, as it comes days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Churachandpur on September 13. The groups have said that the “aberration” has “seriously upset the Kuki Zo sentiments to a point of affecting the mood over the much-awaited Prime Minister’s visit”

The SoO agreement, initially brokered following the Kuki-Naga clashes of the 1990s, aims to maintain a ceasefire while facilitating negotiations. The Manipur government’s previous withdrawal from the agreement in February 2024 and the subsequent imposition of President’s Rule highlighted the fragility of the situation.

The current controversy raises concerns about the future of negotiations and the stability of Manipur, particularly as the Kuki-Zo community seeks greater autonomy and self-determination. Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the PIB have yet to respond to the allegations made by the Kuki-Zo groups.

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