40 PULF cadres lay down arms
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 14 2011: In a landmark event, 40 cadres of a PULF faction led by its leader Umar Farooque and one cadre of KCP (Nando group) surrendered to the Government today together with Umar Farooque himself.

In a 'home-coming ceremony' held at Hqs IG AR (South) at Mantripukhri today, the 41 cadres led by Umar Farooque laid down arms in the presence of the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, DGP Y Joykumar and IG AR (S) Maj Gen CA Krishnan.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated this was the second time after KCP-MC (Lallumba group) for a valley-based armed group to lay down arms.

Pointing out that peace is the most fundamental pre-requisite for development, Ibobi asserted that the decades old armed movement has not brought anything positive to the people of Manipur.

Rather it brought only turmoil and insecurity, Ibobi said.

Whereas different nations across the world have been making keen competitions for development and progress in an unprecedented pace, the people of Manipur have been struggling for issues like law and order, he asserted.

Stating that higher the pace of economic development, greater is the opportunity for people, Ibobi claimed that the Government has been working hard in education, health and other sectors to ensure basic minimum requirements to all the people.

The surrendered PULF and KCP cadres along with the Chief Minister, DGP and IGAR (S) during the surrender ceremony

However, due to several disturbances and impediments, people are still unable to enjoy the benefits of development programmes, Ibobi iterated.

For development necessary infrastructure in such sectors like education, health, transport etc, the Government is investing Rs 3000 crores this year.

"But such momentous task cannot be accomplished by the Government alone.

It need people's support" Ibobi asserted.

In addition, the prevailing gun culture, frequent bandhs and blockades have been causing severe impediments on the path of development.

Categorically stating that violence has no place in a democracy, Ibobi asserted that violence rather than solving problems breeds more and more problems.

Reiterating that the Government has its door wide open for dialogue with all insurgent groups, the Chief Minister rued that the concerned groups have been paying little attention to the conciliatory part of shunning violence.

With regard to shunning violence and joining the mainstream by the 41 UG cadres, Ibobi said that it was not a case of surrender but home-coming.

Noting that there are many groups who are opposed to such home-coming, Ibobi asserted that those groups would be certainly making some comment against their former colleagues who have joined the mainstream.

He appealed to all concerned to come up with positive suggestions rather than harbouring negative perspectives.

The Chief Minister also lauded the efforts of IG AR (S) and Manipur Police.

He further assured that maximum efforts would be put in for proper rehabilitation of the UG cadres who have shunned the path of violence.

The UG cadres who laid down arms today included PULF chairman Md Mujibur Rehman alias Ningthem alias Umar Farooque (36) of Sora, vice-chairman Kalim-udin (51) of Yairipok, general secretary Md Abdul Zamber alias Belan Khan (56) of Lilong, army commander-in-chief Md Jurzaman alias danny (43) of Kairang, chief project officer Y Nabachandra alias Shamu (46), finance secretary Md Abdul Kadir alias Ipa alias Nizam (45), publicity secretary Md Syed Rehman alias Md Rohit alias Sahid Mustaq (33) and organisation secretary Md Muzafar Ali alias Amou alias Dawat (42) .

The last four cadres belong to different places of Yairipok.

The KCP (Nando group) who surrendered today has been identified as Md Apikpa (24) of Lilong.

The PULF cadres brought along 12 pistols, one revolver, five carbines, one M-20 rifles, four .303 rifles, one SLR, six rifles of AK series, one M-16 rifle, a number magazines, two hand grenades and three live rounds of 9 mm ammunition.