72 cadres of 8 UG groups surrendered to State govt
Not surrenderees but misguided youths joining mainstream: Ibobi
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 20 2012: Seventy two cadres including one women cadre, belonging to eight different UG groups surrendered to the state government and laid down arms and ammunitions during a surrender ceremony held at Head Quarters IGAR (S), Mantripukhri today.

The 72 UG cadres who have surrendered to the State government include 14 cadres of UNLF, 14 cadres of KCP (different factions), 13 KYKL cadres, 12 PLA cadres, 8 PULF (different factions) cadres, 3 KNLF cadres and 1 cadre of MNRF.

The lone women cadre belonged to PREPAK (PRO) .

Among the 72 cadres, 27 of them surrendered through 9 Sector AR, 4 of them through 10-Sector AR, 13 of them through 26-Sector AR and another 28 of them have surrendered themselves through 28-Sector AR.

Among the surrenderees, 20 of them are from Thoubal district, 14 from Imphal East district, 4 from Imphal West, 17 from Bishnupur, 6 from Chandel and 1 each from Senapati and Churachandpur districts.

Surrendered UG cadres shaking hands with CM Ibobi ,(Inset) arms surrendered

The arms and ammunitions which the UG surrendered cadres brought along with them included G 3 Rifles, Rifles of AK series, Lethode Guns, Carbine, 9mm Pistols numbering to more than 40 and other local made guns, megazines and walkie-talkie sets.

The surenderees handed over their arms to Chief Minister O Ibobi, Home Minister Gaikhangam, DGP Y Joykumar and Major General U Gurung, IGAR (S) .

While welcoming the 72 cadres, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that "these cadres are not welcomed as surenderees but as misguided youths of the nation into the mainstream with the hope that they will be of great help in the process of ushering in peace and normalcy as well as development of the whole nation" .

The Chief Minister observed that peace is the foremost necessity for progress and development.

Prolonged armed movement in Manipur has not achieved anything concrete for the people of the state except disorder and chaos in the society.

"While the rest of the world is progressing fast, we are still struggling with basic things like law and order", he pointed out.

Further appealing to all the concerned to join the peace process, the Chief Minister stated that for bringing peace and normalcy in the state, doors are always opened for negotiation and talk with misguided youths who want to shun violence and come back to mainstream.

"There is no room for violence in a democratic country like India.

Violence and armed struggle does not solve any problem, rather it brings in more problems" he added.

The Chief Minister also assured that the government will make the best efforts for the integration of the surrendered youths into the mainstream. Chief Minister O Ibobi also congratulated Major General UK Gurung, IGAR (S) and his men for their commendable job for making the event possible.

He also congratulated DGP Y Joykumar and his police force, which have been handling the complex law and order situation and insurgency problem with utmost sincerity.