43 insurgents surrender before CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 07 2023: Altogether 43 cadres of different UG groups including a woman cadre laid down arms before chief minister N Biren during a homecoming ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of 1st Manipur Rifles, here, on Saturday. Attending the event as chief guest, CM Biren said that confidence and trust building are the key recipes for a strong and united Manipur and India.

He said that the government is keeping its doors wide open for anyone willing to give up arms and join the mainstream.

The CM further emphasised that unity and cooperation among all sections of the people is the need of the hour for building a better Manipur and united India.

"Despite the collective and painstaking efforts of the security forces and government on War Against Drugs for total eradication of illegal drugs in the state, it is very unfortunate that a few sections of the people resorted to immature acts of mocking at the government's initiatives," he lamented.

43 insurgents surrender before CM

Biren informed that the government will implement rehabilitation benefits under the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of Militants in the North East States, 2018 for the youth to return to the mainstream.

Under the scheme, there is a one-time financial grant of Rs 4 lakh per individual along with monthly stipend of Rs 6000 apart from separate incentive for surrendering with arms.

All the surrendered UG cadres will stay in rehabilitation camp for three years after which they can return to their respective homes for leading normal life.

The CM also said that there might not be any UG organisations in the state if the past governments at the Centre have had the same outlook and compassion towards the northeast, especially Manipur, like the present government.

He appealed to UG cadres willing to return to mainstream to communicate either through the CMda Haisi portal or security agencies.

Speaking on the occasion, DGP P Doungel highlighted that the government is keen to have talks and bring home all the misguided youths of the state and added that the counter insurgency operations are not enough to resolve the issue.

"Till today, 752 UG cadres, excluding the 43, have surrendered and out of them 644 have returned to their homes after completing mandatory stay of three years in rehabilitation camps.

The remaining 108 are now in rehabilitation camps", DGP Doungel added.

The police officer further stated that the government will continue to bring in all those, who have strayed from normal life, to the national mainstream to ensure peace in the state, under the able leadership of the chief minister N Biren and guidance of the home department with cooperation from security agencies.

The 43 cadres of different UG groups include 13 cadres of KYKL, 5 from PLA/RPF, 5 from KCP N, 11 from KCP, 1 from PREPAK, 2 from PREPAK (PRO), 1 from NSCN (U) and 5 from another UG group.

Weapons and gadgets surrendered included 13 pistols, one 9 mm SMG, two AK series rifles, one 12 mm bore gun, one muzzle loaded gun, one hand gun, 17 hand grenades, five handheld radio sets, one Kenwood radio set, 9 PEKs, five IEDs and 209 live rounds.

Mentioned may be made that the revised surrender scheme of 2018 the onetime financial grant will be kept in a bank in their names as fixed deposit for a period of three years.

The homecoming ceremony was attended by ministers, MLAs and several high ranking state officials and central security forces.