Imphal, October 01: Informing that the Government has been investigating to establish the identity of the UG group/s involved in the bomb attack at the residence of MLA T Hangkhanpao, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also in charge of the Home portfolio, today assured the Assembly that appropriate action would be taken up if any of the UG groups which have signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) were behind the attack.

Replying to a question raised by MLA RK Anand during the question and answer hour session of the Assembly today, the Chief Minister explained that SoO with two apex bodies of the Kuki UG groups namely Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) have been signed under a well-defined set of ground rules which cannot not be violated.

Demanding to know the objective behind signing of the agreement with KNO and UPF separately, RK Anand, while maintaining such measures may be counter productive, observed that the bomb attack at the residence of MLA T Hangkhanpao, which occurred after signing of the agreement, may be due to difference of ideologies between the two groups.

In his response, the Chief Minister said that along with signing agreement with the two groups, SoO has been effected from August 22 for a period of one year.

Some of the main points laid down in the ground rules include non-violation of the ground rules by any of the constituent units of the two groups and to cease operation against the two groups by the State police and other security forces, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister went on to say that to monitor the operation of SoO, a Joint Monitoring Group has been set up.

It would ensure that the ground rules are not violated, that the designated camps of the underground organisations are set up close to the State force or other security forces, identity cards are issued to all the cadres of the two UG groups, pay a reasonable amount towards maintenance of the cadres staying in the designated camps from the side of the Government, to keep the arms and ammunition after being double locked in the respective designated camps and imparting vocational training to the cadres.

He further infomed that the House that political dialogue between the Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) as chairman and the leaders of the two groups are already underway.

Although the UGs may be having some of their own aspirations and ideologies in the ongoing peace talks, no attention has been given in this direction.

Nonetheless, efforts are being made to see whether the National or the State interest is being affected or is there any possibility of causing inconveniences to other communities as a result of the ongoing peace talks, the Chief Minister said.

Noting that problems are being faced due to existence of a large number of unlawful organisations in the State, the Chief Minister observed that peace talks has been initiated as these problems could not be solved without making a beginning.

Informing the House that some of the valley based underground organisations have also shown keen interest to enter peace talks with the Government, the Chief Minister asserted that solution could be brought about only through political dialogue.

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