No FIR against UGs joining mainstream: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 13 2022: Chief minister N Biren has welcomed deputy assistant secretary of health and family welfare department of the proscribed Revolutionary People's Front/People's Liberation Army (RPF-PLA), self-styled Lt Colonel Irom Ibotombi Meitei alias Ibotomba alias Keirungba alias Chingkhei on his homecoming to the mainstream.

Irom Ibomtombi (56), son of Irom Buno Meitei, bearing MC No 131, 1994-95 batch of PLA is a resident of Thangtek under Nambol police station in Bishnupur district and he was accorded a warm welcome by CM Biren in front of media persons and government officials at CM secretariat here on Monday.

Addressing the simple function, CM Biren said that Irom Ibotombi had come to the mainstream trusting the changes brought in the state by Central and state governments and the firm commitment of central leaders towards development of Manipur and Northeast India.

Continuing that the homecoming of such a senior member of PLA shows a new beginning for restoration of peace in the state, Biren assured that the state government would uphold the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah not to use single bullet or lodge FIR against any UG cadre who is ready to lay down arms and join the mainstream.

He added that the state government would make all arrangements to ensure security and rehabilitation of the surrendered cadres.

N Biren maintained that the government had been making arrange-merits for rehabilitation of surrendered cadres, who were once members of UG groups, under various schemes and programmes initiated for them.

Various training programmes for rehabilitation are also given to them at the rehabilitation camps, he said and appealed to people who had joined any UG groups for some reasons to have faith in the welfare and development programmes of the government to come home and join the mainstream.

Taking to his Twitter handle, CM Biren said: "In yet another encouraging development, Lt Colonel of underground outfit RPF (PLA), Irom Ibotombi Meitei have surrendered today".

"The recent homecoming of numerous cadres of underground outfits shows the trust in the leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji", Biren added.

Biren further said that the homecoming of the outlawed active senior RPF (PLA) member marks a new beginning towards restoring peace in the state.

"The government will uphold the commitment of Union home minister Amit Shah during his visit in the state to 'not use a single bullet of lodge FIRs' against any underground cadre who is ready to lay down arms and join the mainstream", reiterated Biren.

As assurance given by PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, such more homecoming ceremonies will also take place in the coming days, he added.

The ceremony was attended by chief secretary Rajesh Kumar, Manipur DGP P Doungel and other top officials of the state.

It may be mentioned that 14 cadres of United Tribal Liberation Army-James Group (UTLA-J) including its chairman laid down their arms and ammunition before the chief minister during a homecoming ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles on June 1.On the other-hand, chief minister N Biren asserted that eviction of illegal encroachers at Waithou hill on Sunday was carried as per law and there was no show of government's power in the drive.

He also appealed to encroachers to voluntarily re-move/dismantle their own houses/structures as eviction process has begun.

Making this appeal on the sidelines of homecoming ceremony of PLA leader Irom Ibotombi, CM Biren said that the state government has taken up the eviction process in the larger interest of the people of the state and to conserve nature and mitigate the impact of climate change being experienced by the present generation.

The chief minister also said that he too being a human felt bad about pulling down certain houses and structures.

However, government cannot think only for certain section of people and has to work in the larger interest of the people.

Eviction has been taken up following procedures as per the law of the land and state government did nothing beyond the ambit of the Constitution of India, he added.

While assuring of providing arrangements for rehabilitation if any affected party has no other land of their own to stay, the chief minister said that district officials have been instructed to identify such families.

He further appealed to all encroachers and illegal occupants to voluntarily dismantle their structures from reserved forest area as the government would be continuing the eviction drive.

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