UNLF AND NRFM (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Internal Security)

Context: Recently, as Manipur's oldest valley-based armed group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), inked a peace agreement with the Centre, another Meitei group, the National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM), has also recently joined the peace process.

United National Liberation Front (UNLF)

• About: It is a separatist insurgent group active in the state of Manipur in Northeast India.
• Formation: On November 24, 1964,
• Aim: Establishing a sovereign and socialist Manipur.
• Also known as: United National Liberation Front of Manipur
• Other information: The UNLF is believed to have received its initial training from the NSCN (IM), the largest Naga insurgent group.

o A proscribed group, banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), it has largely been functioning from camps and training bases in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, Chin state, and Rakhine state with the patronage of the Myanmar military.

National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM)

• Formation: On September 11, 2011 by cadres of three factions of KCP, a Meitei UG outfit.
• Earlier known as: United Revolutionary Front. Its leaders operated from bases in a neighbouring country and were involved in violence and extortion in various parts of the Manipur Valley.