Imphal/Delhi, December 01 2010: With Delhi finally admitting officially that UNLF chief RK Meghen is in their custody with the "arrested in Motihari district of Bihar" twist in the tale, the focus or rather the immediate point of interest to the people is when he will be brought to Imphal, where a number of cases have been filed against him.

However the wait will be longer as there is no immediate plan to bring Meghen to Imphal at least in the next 2 or 3 days.

By design or otherwise, amidst the unfolding developments and the large number of unanswered questions, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is scheduled to arrive here on December 14 on a two day visit and discuss the road map to bring the underground organisations to the negotiating table.

Contrary to the report filed by the BBC as well as the follow up exercise taken up by Tehelka, Delhi did not say anything about the rebel being arrested in Dhaka on September 29, but merely came out with the statement that he was arrested by sleuths of the National Investigative Agency (NIA) from Chhattauni village in Motihari district of Bihar while he was trying to sneak into India from Nepal.

The rebel leader has been brought to Guwahati from Patna today and with talks doing the round that he would be brought here today, a large number of people, not to speak of of media persons, descended on Tulihal airport to have a glimpse of the man who has been waging a bush war against India for the last 30/40 years.

When The Sangai Express contacted the DGP, Y Joykumar today, the police officer admitted that a formal intimation has been received that Meghen has been arrested by NIA personnel.

Stating that he is yet to be officially handed over to the State police, Joykumar said that as of now there is no plan to shift him to Imphal in the next couple of days.

Speaking to The Sangai Express Chief Minister O Ibobi echoed much the same observation as the DGP, stating that there are no immediate plans to bring Meghen to Imphal.

He will be brought here after going through all the necessary process and when the time is right, added the Chief Minister.

Stating that there has been no change in the policy of the Government, the Chief Minister said that they have always maintained that dialogue is the only option and had sent out the same message to the rebel groups.

Even today, the doors of the Government are open for the rebels to come in for a political dialogue.

The invitation to come to the negotiating table covers all the underground outfits and not only the UNLF, explained the Chief Minister.

Recalling his recent trip to Delhi, Ibobi said that engaging the rebel groups to a political talk was discussed minutely during his meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Informing that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is scheduled to arrive here on December 14 and leave the next day, the Chief Minister said that during his stay here the road map to chart out a way for the rebel groups to come to the negotiating table would be discussed minutely.

A source close to the Union Home Ministry informed The Sangai Express that RK Meghen has been taken to Guwahati after his arrest yesterday.

He is set to be produced before a special Court of the NIA tomorrow, said the source.

Stating that a case against Meghen has been registered in Guwahati in connection with the arrest of some UNLF cadres there, the source said that the case has been registered under FIR number 10/2010.The source however said that he is not aware of how many cases have been lodged against him in Manipur.

Earlier on September 8, the vice chairman of the outfit Kh Pambei and Deputy Secretary (Organisation) Ningombam Dilip were rounded up from Guwahati.

A source who is acquainted with the rules and procedures of the Court said that in all probability the NIA has registered the case against Meghen on the instruction of the Union Home Ministry, as the ground under which the case was framed is flimsy-arrest of UNLF cadres from Guwahati.

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