SoO cadres occupying Govt quarters
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 01, 2012: Some cadres belonging to Kuki armed groups bounded by the suspension of operation (SoO) agreement are reportedly staying at Government quarters in Kangpokpi sub-divisional headquarters.

According to sources, some Home Department officials are also aware about these UG cadres staying at the residential quarters of Government employees.

Informing that most of the State Government departments have residential facilities for its employees, the sources maintained that occupation of these quarters started after the original residents moved out from the quarters.

Significantly, according to the sources, the original residents were mostly families affected by the bloody Kuki-Naga clash of the early/mid-90s. With the cash affected families subsequently returning to the original places of residence or at new locations, the UG cadres started to move in to these quarters.

As fresh appointments in Government departments also included spouses or family members of cadres of Kuki armed groups, the said cadres too started to live with their spouses/families consequent to signing of cessation of hostility between the Government and the armed outfits.

There are also cases of the cadres occupying the Government quarters after genuine Government employees, who were allotted the quarters, decided to shift their place of residence at more convenient locations, as well as some of the cadres staying at the quarters, apparently with the consent of the employee concerned.

Many of these quarters are also said to be in highly dilapidated state as no repairing work has been initiated for years.

Reminding that under the terms and conditions of SoO, all the cadres should be housed at quarters constructed within the designated camps, the sources further pointed out that while many barrack-type constructions have been completed at the campuses of designated camps, some are under construction with financial provision from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

They also pointed out that cadres of Kuki armed outfits staying outside the designated camps is a violation of the SoO ground rules.

The sources further expressed apprehension that in case Government do not initiate land demarcation process at the earliest the Government lands would be lost to influential individuals.

Comment