Imphal, June 11: The banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) ? two rival outfits of Manipur ? have reportedly agreed to end hostilities.
The two outfits have clashed in recent times, resulting in some casualties. In a statement, the UNLF said both outfits have agreed not to strike at each other. The truce was reached during a meeting of the leaders of the two outfits held on June 8.
The statement said both sides would now work towards resettling villagers displaced as a result of clashes between them.
Reports said rivalry between the unlf and the uklf had intensified after a two-day gunbattle in the Zoupi area of Chandel district, bordering Mynamar, in April this year.
The uklf claimed that a village chief and one activist each from both sides were killed during the clashes. Reports said several villagers in the area had fled their homes fearing more clashes. Many had been caught in the crossfire in earlier clashes.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur, in a memorandum to the Centre and as well as the Manipur government, had demanded relief for the displaced people.
It had also demanded resettlement of the homeless people. Some ngos had provided them with relief materials.
While expressing its gratitude to all those who initiated the ?peace process? between the two groups, the UNLF said both sides would work towards the resettlement of villagers who had deserted their homes during the clashes.
Earlier, the unlf had appealed to the villagers to return to their homes without any fear.
In a separate development, the two factions of the Kuki National Front (knf) have agreed to end hostilities, too. The decision to bury differences was taken during a meeting of knf leader P. Moses Kuki and knf (MC) leader Th. German, according to a statement issued by information and broadcasting secretary of the KNF, Gideon Kuki.