Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 15:
Issuing a fervent call to all the armed groups to shun violence and come to the negotiating table, Governor SS Sidhu in his address to the 10th sitting of the 8th Assembly today said that violence is not the answer to the issues confronting Manipur and advocated a democratic process to set things right.
Addressing the august gathering, the Governor noted with concern that despite the best efforts of the police, army and para-military forces to curb unlawful activities, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, unauthorised collection of taxes continue unabated.
Asserting that the Govt is sincere in solving the vexing problem of militancy, the Governor appealed to all the armed groups to come forward, lay down arms and adopt democratic approach to resolve their problems.
On the challenges faced by the State police in tackling the activities of the militants, the Governor said that the situation has now become all that more complex as the militants use their guns to earn quick and easy money adding that the increasing use of IEDs by the militants is also posing a grave challenge to the Govt.Apart from tackling the grave law and order situation, the service of the State police is also utilised for providing security to VIPs.
Despite the constraints faced by the State police, the Govt has been able to keep the law and order situation under control, said the Governor asserting that the activities of militants have been curbed to a great extent.
The thrust areas in CI ops continue to be neutralisation of armed groups and security of vital instalments, said the Governor.
With the police keeping a sharp vigil on the activities of militants, many armed groups have moved from the valley areas to the hill districts, informed the Governor and added that even in the hills, the area domination by police and security force is on the increase and cited the operations launched in CCpur and Chandel districts to check the setting up of base camps of militants.
Listing the achievements of the security personnel, the Governor said that during the last one year, 773 militants belonging to different groups were arrested while 121 were killed.
151 assorted weapons were also seized during the same period.
On the financial front, the Governor said that the non-Plan expenditure continue to outstrip the non-Plan receipts and explained that this distortion is primarily due to the lopsided award of the 11th Finance Commission, which failed to take into consideration the liabilities on account of the adoption of the 5th Pay Commission.
The Governor expressed hope that the recommendations of the 12th Finance Commission will mitigate the financial problem of the State to a large extent.
The Governor's address also touched on a large number of points to be taken up by the Government in coming years including connecting the district headquarters to Imphal (Pallel Chandel road).
The NEC has also provided maintenance fund for old NEC roads, said the Governor.The other agendum spelt out by the Governor include total electrification of villages by the end of 2007, water supply at Imphal, new flood control projects for Nambul river etc.