MHA tests peace with jailed UG leaders
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 01 2012:
To pave the way for bringing different armed groups to the negotiating table, top officials from the Union Home Ministry are reportedly meeting leaders of manipur underground groups currently lodged in jails both inside and outside the State.
According to an informed source, the Central Government is determined to resolve the vexed insurgency problem that had been besieging Manipur for the last many decades and has specifically prevailed upon the Home Ministry officials to meet and convince detained UG leaders to have meaningful dialogue with the Government.
While evading a direct comment on whether there is any positive response from the UG leaders, the source said after a few months there would be clarity on the outcome of the meetings.
Not ruling out the possibility of UG leaders disagreeing with the stand of the jailed UG leaders even if they consent to enter into peace dialogue with the Government, the source said that into account all perspectives Ministry officials are taking all possible measures to sustain the initiative.
A number of underground leaders are currently lodged in different jails.
Meanwhile, another source confided to the Sangai Express that the proposed deployment of India Reserve Battalion and Manipur Rifles personnel in the hill districts cannot be translated into action as these State forces are being presently utilised as escorts of VIPs and MLAs as well as engineers and heads of departments, who face threat from subversive elements.
Disclosing that most of the MLAs seek substantial number of security personnel in excess of the entitled strength, the source said security provision to both present and former MLAs has resulted in literally nullifying recruitment of State security forces.