Army sticks to surrender story
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 05 2012:
The report in the Sangai Express edition of May 5 under the headline "Skeltons tumble out of surrender..." has been strongly disapproved by the Red Shield Division.
According to a PIB (DW) rebuttal "57 Mountain Division adopts a detailed and established procedure prior to acceptance of surrenders.
The names of potential surrenderees are verified by the Police as also by the Village Heads, neighbours and own existing records" .
It is only after completion of these procedures that the cadre is found a fit case for surrender.
Even 'volunteer' surrenderees are not accepted at their face value until the verification procedures are completed, affirmed the PIB (DW) in a statement issued today.
The Division ensures that names of cadres willing to surrender is published in all leading newspapers of Manipur 3-5 days prior, before accepting surrender.
Also such cadres, when exposed to public during homecoming ceremony, are abstained from veiling their faces, it conveyed while asserting that antecedents of surrenderees can be checked with past records that surrender of cadres to 57 Mountain Division had always been transparent.
The procedure is also applicable to groups which enter into 'Suspension of Operation' arrangements with the Govt.As far as rehabilitation of cadres is concerned, it is a State Government subject and being dealt with accordingly.
No surrendered cadre is housed in Army Camps since it is not permitted to do so.
Once again is reiterated that the Division does not accept surrender of militants until and unless facts, records and other verification procedures are adhered to in the right earnest.