Take back ex-UGs : Army tells State Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 02 2014: The State Government has received a letter from the Army authority that they would not like to house any longer former militants currently accommodated in many of their camps.

Last year alone, more than 400 militants laid down arms and surrendered to the Government.

Most of these former militants are currently accommodated in Assam Rifles camps and police outposts.

In the absence of proper rehabilitation centres, the former militants are housed in different units of security forces.

The responsibility of accommodating and monitoring former militants does not lie with the army any longer.

State Government should take the responsibility of accommodating and looking after former militants, the army authority said.

A letter to this effect was sent to the State Government sometime back.

The State Government has considered the letter at the highest level but no decision has been taken so far, informed a source.

Although the former militants are still accommodated within their camps, the army authority's letter has turned out to be a cause of serious headache for the Government.

The army authority's letter also asked the State Government to take over the responsibility of looking after former militants currently housed in designated camps of different Kuki UG groups under SoO pact.

Manipur Police alone cannot monitor activities of such a large number of former militants at the moment.

It is high time for the State Government to take up some concrete measures if it is determined to contain or finish the insurgency movement, added the source.

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