Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 28 2009:
The ground rules of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) signed by the Government of India and the State Government with the combined Kuki UG groups of UPF and KNO has been discussed during a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group and it has been decided to entrust the district police for verification on finalising the exact strength of cadres of the signatory UG groups.
The meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group was held at Ist MR here today with its chairman Additional Chief Secretary Home DS Poonia in the chair.
Today's meeting was the 7th round after signing of SoO on August last year.
Attended by IG Intelligence LM Khaute, two officials of Home Ministry, representatives of Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF and other security agencies, the meeting discussed the ground rules of SoO.
Raising the issues related to extortion activities being carried out by signatories of SoO from the side of the State Government, details of the cases registered by the police in connection with violation of SoO ground rules had also been tabled for discussion.
The State Government made it clear that security forces would not tolerate extortion activities and the clashes taking place among the UG groups which are signatories to SoO should be stopped.
Clarification from the side of the SoO signatories to the steps being taken up towards ensuring strict adherence to the ground rules had also been sought during the meeting.
It also reviewed progress of the construction work on the designated camps of the UG groups.
It was conveyed that apart from arranging the required construction materials for six designated camps of UPF and four others for KNO, the Government has also sanctioned Rs 10 lakhs for each of the designated camp.
As the exact strength of the cadres belonging to the UG groups which are signatories to SoO has not yet been finalised, it has been decided to entrust task of verifying their numbers by the district police concerned.
It may be noted here that stipend to these UG cadres for the month of January to April this year has already been released and issuing of identity cards started.