114 UG cadres lay down arms
Peace strategies start bearing fruits, exclaims CM
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 26 2012: ONE HUNDRED and fourteen cadres of 11 different UG groups of the state laid down their arms to the Chief Minister during a homecoming ceremony at the Mantripukhri complex of IGAR (S) today.

Out of the 114 cadres who surrendered along with arms and ammunition, 18 of them reportedly belong to UNLF, 11 to PLA, 9 to KCP, 17 to KYKL, 18 to PREPAK, 12 to KNLF, 1 to UPRF, 6 to UPPK, 2 to KNLA, 4 to UNPC and 16 to PULF.

Again among the 114 surrenderees, 5 of them are female.

Though the exact number of arms and ammunition reportedly surrendered by the UG cadres were not specified by the authorities to media, some Lethod guns, AK 47 Rifles, Stand Guns, Pistols and Revolvers were seen being handed over to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Home Minister Gaikhangam and IGAR (S) Maj Gen U K Gurung.

Chief Secretary DS Poonia, Principal Secretary (Home) Dr J Suresh Babu, DGP Y Joykumar, other Army and police officers and family members of the surrendered UG cadres were also present during the homecoming ceremony.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and others officials posing for a group photo with the surrendered UG cadres

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the peace strategy which was taken up by the state government has started bearing fruits.

Bringing more and more UG groups to the negotiating table for peaceful solution is the desire of the state government.

Problems can be solved only through peaceful negotiation and not through guns and violence.

The Chief Minister observed that it is really unfortunate that there a number of individuals and groups who do not believe in the process of democracy and its various institutions.

When all the people of the world are trying their level best to develop their own states and countries, Manipur is still remains buried deep in armed conflicts.

As such the development process in the state has been hampered.

In view of the prevailing armed conflict situation in the state, no company or entrepreneur from outside is willing to invest in the state.

The Chief Minister went on to say that the main task of the state government which remains to be accomplished is to provide sufficient power to the people.

For this, the state government has decided to take up initiatives under PPP model.

People are sure to see a change in future with regard to supply of power.

The Chief Minister also made it clear that surrenderees who have come forward to join the mainstream should not leave their designated camps and visit their homes frequently.

The state government is always ready to welcome back those youths who have been led astray and will also do all the needful to bring them all back to where they actually belong.

Their future will also be made secured, he assured.

During the course of homecoming ceremony, one of the surrenderees, all of a sudden shouted out loudly and got fainted.

He was immediately rushed to the AR Unit Hospital for treatment.

While responding to a query put forward by media persons on the sideline of the homecoming ceremony, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh assured that the allegation over gunning down two surrendered UG cadres by AR personnel would be looked into.

Interestingly, the homecoming ceremony has come about after proscribed RPF had issued a statement to the media on September 24 informing that there would be a 'surrender drama' organized by AR within a couple of days.

Meanwhile, in a statement, PRO Assam Rifles has observed that 'It is evident from such large numbers (UG cadres surrendering) that the State abhors violence and is desirous of leading a peaceful and prosperous life.

While Manipur has been facing the scourge of terrorism for the past several decades, it is the general public who are bearing the brunt of problems due to the presence of such militant outfits which indulge in senseless killing, extortion and anti-social activities' .