41 UGs including PULF chairman lay down arms before CM
CM reveals election another means to take people mandate
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 14 2011: Forty PULF (Umar Farooque) faction including chairman Umar himself and a KCP (Nando) group cadre surrendered their weapons including bombs and ammunition before CM, O Ibobi in a function held at IGAR(S) complex, Mantripukhri on Tuesday.

The IGAR(S) termed the function as a "Home Coming" .

Manipur DGP Y Joykumar, Maj Gen CA Krishnan, IGAR (S), Brig Gajendra Prashad, Commander 9 Sector AR and other top officials of the AR and state police attended the ceremony.

The 41 activists surrendered with 36 arms, two hand grenades and three live 9mm rounds.

The arms included thirteen 9mm pistols, two 7.65mm pistols, four each of .303 bolt rifles, 9mm carbine machine guns, AK-56 rifles, two each of M-16 and AK-47 rifles and one each of 9mm Thomson CM, .22 revolver, M-20 rifle, SLR and .32 pistol.

CM, O Ibobi asserted that holding a plebiscite to end the problems of the state may not be practicable but the government is welcome to talks with any UG group.

The existing form of government in the country cannot accept a third party participation that is deposition of arms with the UN.

Political dialogue however can be held either with the central or the state government.

Tripartite talks can also be considered, he said.

PULF cadres and their surrendered arms and ammunition

Another option can be through elections he said adding that insurgents can contest in elections and decide whether the people agree to their demands.

The CM who termed today's surrender ceremony as a testimony that "our youth needs to be guided and welcomed into the mainstream said "Let me assure all these boys who have shown courage to surrender that we will make the best efforts for their rehabilitation" .

The CM reiterated that peace is the foremost requirement of any progress and that the prolonged armed movement in the state has not achieved anything concrete for the people.

"It has only led to disorder and chaos in the society" .

Progress in the entire world is taking place at a very fast rate, but, people of Manipur are still struggling with basic things like law and order, he lamented.

Asserting that common man today needs a life with dignity, Ibobi said it can be achieved only by ensuring proper education, health and livelihood.

"Benefits of developmental programmes have not reached the people because of elements which create disturbances in the path of progress," he said.

It is well understood that some out-lawed groups may have concerns related to public issues.

This is why government is open to talks and negotiations.

But a genuine concern does not give anybody the right to resort to violence.

In a free democratic society there is no place for violence.

Violence does not solve any problem, the CM said reiterating his appeal to the undergrounds groups to come forward for peace talks.

"Guns cannot bring any solution.

It only creates more problems which is so evident in Manipur.

It is my sincere appeal to all concerned to join the peaceful process of decision making and solve of problems," Ibobi said.

The CM expressed his thanks to officers and jawans of AR and the state police asserting that their untiring efforts have borne fruit.

Major General CA Krishnan, IGAR (S) has done a commendable job by making the surrender event possible, he added.

After the KCP (Lallumba) group's surrender, today's surrender of 41 militants was the second time a mass surrender has taken place.

Besides, the chairman of the PULF faction Md Mujibur Rehman @ Ningthem @ Umar Farooq, other members of the faction included Md Abdul Jabbar @ Md Belal Khan, General Secy, Md Noorjaman @ Deny, Commander-in-Chief, Y Nabachandra Singh @ Shamu, project officer, Md Abdul Kadir @ Epa @ Nijam, finance secretary, Md Syed Rehman @ Md Rohit @ Sahid Mustaq, publicity secretary and Md Mujaffar Ali @ Amou @ Dawat, organizing secretary.

They conveyed their sincere thanks to the CM, AR and the State Police for facilitating their "Home Coming", a statement of the IGAR(S) added.