Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 06:
Protesting against the failure of providing them with the ration money, 28 former underground cadres who have laid down arms and surrendered to the State Government under the India Government's policy of Surrender cum Rehabilitation policy have launched a hunger strike at the Lamphelpat Rehabilitation where they are putting up from today.
Talking to mediapersons, the agitators said that have been constrained to go ahead with the stir as the Government has failed to provide the month ration money entitled to them for the last three months consecutively.
Where is hope for a better life if we are made to live in such condition?, some of them questioned.
As per the Surrender cum Rehabilitation Police, every surrender militants are entitled to get Rs 2000 every month as ration money.
But apart from the irregularity in payment of the amount, the surrendered militants living in the Rehabilitation at Lamphel have not been reportedly denied the entitlements for the last three months consecutively.
As the Government has remained indifferent our plights, the personnel of the 2 MR posted at the centre have been looking after our needs, even to the extent to bringing ration for us from their own homes, the surrendered militants informed.
Moreover, although the Government has deposited the amount of the surrender benefits in the bank for 16 of them , the remaining eight surrendered militants are yet to get such benefit.
The number of the surrendered militants currently putting up in the Rehabilitation Centre at Lamphelpat are PLA-3, UNLF-2, PREPAK-8, KCP-5, NSCN (I-M)-3 and KNA-3.The attitude of the Government towards the surrendered militants in Manipur is really despicable.
It is same as telling us to stay if we like and go away if we don't, the hunger strikers said.