House clears five demands SoO dialogue likely from Aug 9/10 : CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 27 2017: A tripartite dialogue process involving the Government of India, Government of Manipur and several militant groups under SoO is likely to begin from August 9 or 10 .

This was stated by Chief Minister N Biren in the State Assembly today where five different demands amounting to Rs 1412,71,31,000 were passed .

The demands pertained to Police (Rs 1359,72,11,000), Vigilance (Rs 3,92,62,000), Fire Protection and Control (Rs 13,85,45,000), Jail (Rs 19,61,58,000) and Home Guard (Rs 15,59,53,000) .

While discussing the demands, Chief Minister N Biren conceded that virtual absence of governance in the hill districts is not a recent issue but a chronic one which has been there since decades .

Nonetheless, since the BJP led Government was set up, it has been working to establish rule of law and governance in the hill districts .

Police and local civil society organisations jointly carried out specific drives and seized large quantities of drugs from Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Chandel, Moreh and Senapati.

This is a testimony of establishment of rule of law and governance in hill districts, Biren claimed .

The Anti-Corruption Cell opened at the Chief Minister's office is only for monitoring.

The follow-up actions would be taken up by Home, Vigilance and other authorities concerned .

Noting that mob justice has become a serious issue in the State, Biren maintained that it was grave injustice to punish all the members of a family for the wrongdoings of one member even though acts of mob justice might have been incited by the authority's delay in delivering justice .

In order to check acts of mob justice, awareness programmes and community policing exercises have been intensified .

Taking serious note of frequent road accidents, Traffic Police has been placed under a separate Superintendent of Police .

Seizure of drugs is not enough.

The source of drug supply must be cut off, asserted the Chief Minister .

Police have been issued strict instructions not to tolerate collection of illegal taxes along Imphal-Mao highway, Imphal-Jiribam highway and Imphal-Moreh highway .

Conceding that some militant groups under ceasefire/SoO pacts have been collecting tax, the Chief Minister stated that their activities are being closely monitored .

So far, 33 activists of NSCN-IM, 12 cadres of KNA and 26 cadres of UPF have been apprehended along with arms and booked for collection of illegal tax/violation of SoO ground rules .

Whether it is SoO pact or ceasefire agreement, a solution is the need of the hour for common people have suffered too long.

The State Government has already asked the Central Government to work out a solution at the earliest, Biren stated .

SoO pact is a tripartite arrangement involving the Government of India, the State Government and several militant groups .

An interlocutor has been nominated to work a solution to the SoO pact.

Due arrangements have also been made to initiate dialogue process from either August 9 or 10 .

However, the integrity of Manipur is untouchable.

The MoU signed at Churachandpur was done in a very transparent manner .

The UNC which is a party to the tripartite talks involving the Government of India and the State Government has been insisting on a particular demand but the Government would never accede to such demands, Biren stated without elaborating the UNC's demand .

Conveying that the Centre has asked the State Government to deploy IRB for guarding the State's National Highways, Biren informed that the State's total sanctioned posts for armed police including IRB is 30,819 .

Out of the total sanctioned posts, 23,398 personnel are currently in service while 7411 posts are lying vacant .

The previous Government started recruitment process to the vacant posts.

Results of the recruitment process would be announced soon after completing viva voce .

If there is any shortfall in the strength of State armed forces, the State Government would ask the Central Government to sanction the required strength .

The Government would take up due initiative to procure modern equipment for Manipur Police Forensic Science Laboratory .

After identifying all the places where stationing of fire tenders is essential, a proposal would be sent to the Centre .

Whatever equipment given to bomb disposal squad were asked by them.

Nonetheless, the Government is considering procuring necessary modern equipment under the police modernisation programme, Biren stated .

Even though Home Guards must get monthly salary of Rs 22,000 as per a ruling of the Supreme Court, the State's Home Guard personnel are being given monthly salary of Rs 5000 as the Government is not in a position to pay them Rs 22,000 per month on account of the State's limited resources.

Nonetheless, the Government has been working to negotiate with the Home Guards and fix their monthly salary anew .

A transfer and posting policy for Police Department would framed soon.

To assist road accident victims, mobile police teams have been stationed at different areas of Imphal, the Chief Minister informed the House .

Joining the discussion, K Ranjit remarked that the Government has failed abjectly in maintaining law and order in hill districts .

"The Government holds the law but order is in the hands of underground elements", Ranjit said .

He further asserted that militants have been levying all kinds of taxes on vehicles plying on National Highways as well as goods they are transporting .

He went on to ask if the Government of India has sanctioned establishment of five IRB battalions for protection of National Highways .

While appreciating that the Anti-Corruption Cell has initiated punitive actions against people involved in bribery cases, Ranjit suggested abolition of Vigilance Department as it exists only for namesake .

Yamthong Haokip urged the Government to open a Fire Brigade sub-station within Saikul AC and also to shift military personnel who are currently occupying the Saikul SDO office .

Asserting that NSCN-IM has been continuously threatening the integrity of Manipur in addition to indulging in rampant robbery along the highways, Kh Joykisan asked whether the State Government has taken up any measure to drive away the NSCN-IM from the soil of Manipur .

MLA K Meghachandra too urged the Government to consider construction of building of the Fire Brigade sub-station located at Yairipok.

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