Mizoram Set to Conclude Long-Standing Insurgency with Upcoming Peace Accord
Historic Peace Accord on the Horizon
The signing ceremony will coincide with the formal surrender of 43 cadres, who are expected to lay down arms before authorities
Aizawl, April 7: The government of Mizoram is on the verge of concluding one of its longest-running insurgencies by signing a peace agreement with the Lalhmingthanga Sanate-led faction of the Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) on April 14 at Sakawrdai village, located near the Manipur border.
Officials from the state’s home department have confirmed that the accord will be signed by the Home Secretary on behalf of the government and Lalhmingthanga Sanate, the president of HPC (D), with the Chief Minister's Political Adviser, Lalmuanpuia Punte, present at the event.
This signing ceremony will also mark the formal surrender of 43 insurgents, who are anticipated to lay down their arms and begin their reintegration into civilian life later this month.
Recent discussions between government representatives and an HPC (D) delegation, led by Sanate, laid the groundwork for this agreement. The meeting, which took place at Lalmuanpuia Punte's office, resulted in a consensus that officials believe will effectively conclude the Hmar insurgency in Mizoram.
Sources have indicated that during negotiations, the Sanate faction did not present any political demands. Instead, the focus of the settlement is on developmental commitments, particularly aimed at enhancing rural connectivity in the Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) area. The agreement also includes provisions for the rehabilitation of former militants and a comprehensive amnesty. Compensation for surrendered weapons will be provided according to the rates set by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Sanate-led faction is recognized as the last remaining group of the Hmar insurgency, which originated in the late 1980s. The movement began with the establishment of the Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) in 1986, advocating for self-governance in Hmar-populated regions of northern and northeastern Mizoram. By April 1987, the HPC had initiated an armed struggle for the creation of an autonomous district council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, leading to increased violence, peaking around 1991.
A significant breakthrough occurred on July 27, 1994, when the Mizoram government and the HPC signed a Memorandum of Settlement, which facilitated the formation of the Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC). Following this accord, 308 militants surrendered along with their weapons.
However, dissatisfaction with the implementation of the agreement resulted in a split within the organization. A faction broke away to form the HPC(D) under Lalhmingthanga Sanate, continuing the insurgency. This group later fragmented further after Sanate allied with Kuki militant groups, leading to the rise of a rival faction led by H Zosangbera, which gained traction in the 2000s. The Zosangbera faction engaged in negotiations with the state government and signed a peace agreement on April 2, 2018, resulting in the dissolution of the SHDC and the establishment of the Sinlung Hills Council under the Sinlung Hills Council Act, 2018, which granted greater autonomy to the region.
Despite these advancements, the Sanate faction remained outside the peace process, operating from bases in Hmarkhawlien and Lakhipur in Assam’s Cachar district. Over time, its activities reportedly declined, with the group primarily involved in sporadic extortion incidents in parts of Cachar and northern Mizoram. With the upcoming signing of the agreement next week, officials are optimistic that Mizoram will finally eradicate the remnants of the Hmar insurgency, marking a pivotal achievement in the state's ongoing efforts to uphold peace and stability.