Chief Minister smokes the peace pipe, assures rehab package for surrendered
UG cadres 114 lay down arms before Government
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 26 2012:
Even as bomb attacks on security forces and high security zone marked the last many days, a total of 114 militants belonging to different groups surrendered with arms before Chief Minister O Ibobi and other dignitaries at the headquarters of IG Assam Rifles ( South) at Mantripukhri today.
The mass surrender came in the face of militants targeting security forces with powerful IEDs since September 5 killing an Assam Rifles soldier and injuring ten central security personnel and a civilian in the process.
The 114 militants who surrendered today included 16 PULF cadres, 18 UNLF cadres, 17 KYKL cadres, 18 PREPAK cadres, 12 KNLF cadres, 9 KCP cadres, 11 PLA cadres, one UPRF cadre, two KNLA cadres, six UPPK cadres and four UNPC cadres.
The names and other details of the surrendered cadres were however not divulged.
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Addressing the biggest 'Home Coming' ceremony of the year, the Chief Minister said the day's event reflects the mindset of the youth and assured rehabilitation package for the surrendered militants.
Other than the Chief Minister, Home Minister Gaikhangam, Principal Secretary (Home) Suresh Babu, Director General of Police Yumnam Joykumar Singh and IG AR Maj General UK Gurung were present at the surrender ceremony.
The cadres including some women laid down various weapons including AK-47 and HK rifles, lethod guns, carbines , pistols and revolvers.
Lauding the Assam Rifles and Manipur police for their efforts in bringing the cadres to the mainstream, Ibobi Singh said both the forces deserve commendations for the achievement.
Stating that the recent peace initiatives have produced fairly good results, the Chief Minister said that it has been the State Government's conscious policy to engage maximum number of underground groups in peace talks.
"The extent of this engagement has expanded over the years.
We firmly believe that solution to any problem will come only through dialogue and peaceful means.
Violence can never solve a problem," he said.
The CM, nevertheless expressed concern over a section of people, who he said, do not have faith in democratic processes and institutions.
"It is really unfortunate.
We all are witnessed to the fact that the prolonged armed movement in Manipur Manipur has not achieved anything concrete for the people.
It has only bred disorder and chaos in the society.
The question is how long will we suffer all this ? We have to find a plausible answer to this question," he lamented.
Responding to a poser put up by reporters on the sidelines of the event pertaining to the recent killings of rebels, who allegedly surrendered to the security force, in encounters, the Chief Minister said a probe is necessary to confirm the matter.
An Assam Rifles statement said that the family members of the surrenderees, some of them getting carried away by emotions, also profusely thanked the Assam Rifles for guiding the youth towards the right path and leading normal life henceforth.