13 cadres of KCP, KYKL lay down arms
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, September 15 2022: In all, 12 cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party-People's War Group (KCP-PWG) and one cadre of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) laid down arms and ammunition before Chief Minister N Biren Singh during a homecoming ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles, here, on Thursday.

Organised by the Home Department, the homecoming ceremony was attended by Power minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, Rural Development and Panchayat! Raj minister Yumnam Khemchand, Water Resources minister Awangbow Newmai, Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution minister L Susindro Meitei, Social Welfare minister H Dingo, Education minister Th Basanta, Transport minister Khashim Vashum, Director General of Police P Doungel and other high-ranking officials of civil, police and paramilitary forces including IGAR (S) among others.

Speaking on the occasion, CM N Biren welcomed all the cadres on their homecoming to the mainstream, adding that it was the right time for all to go ahead together for growth and development of the state.

The Chief Minister continued that Manipur had been facing unrest situation due to insurgency problems since the 1960s.However, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the insurgency related incidents had considerably declined in the last 5 years.

Having faith in the style of governance of the Prime Minister, people started showing a sense of nationalism.

Mass participation in this year's Independence Day celebration and Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign has proved people's love for the country, he maintained.

Requesting the central government agencies operating in the state to see the changing scenario in Manipur, Biren stressed the need of thinking positively and changing the way of dealing with insurgent groups to bring them to the mainstream.

He also spoke on the importance of joint efforts among the state and central armed forces in dealing with the issue through exchange of plans and strategies.

Maintaining that the state government had already begun its initiative to convince various insurgent groups, through political dialogues and schemes for Surrender-cum Rehabilitation, and bring them back home, Biren revealed the government's aim to end insurgency in the next 5 years.

He then cautioned that some vested interest groups were trying to portray a bad image of the state by playing ethnic-based politics.

He appealed to the public to work together for the development of the country, while reiterating the assurance made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that not a single bullet would be fired on those militants who want to return to normal life and join the national mainstream, and no FIR would be lodged against them unless they are involved in a heinous crime.

Stating that the problem of insurgency can be solved with political dialogue by convincing the insurgents to return to mainstream life, or could be dealt with through legal means; the CM further appealed to all the other insurgent groups to come back to the mainstream, taking advantage of such a right time.

Remarking that community-based politics and insurgency are the reasons for the state lagging behind in terms of development, Biren emphasised the need for all concerned to take up their respective responsibilities for a peaceful and developed Manipur.

The cadres of banned KCP(PWG) brought arms and ammunition which included two lath-ode guns, three 9mm pistols, three IEDs, two detonators, two radio sets, five letter heads and four extortion slips; while the lone KYKL cadre surrendered one 9mm pistol.

In connection with surrender of the cadres, defence spokesman Lt Col AS Walia, in a statement, said: "Families of the surrendered insurgents also expressed their gratitude to the security forces for safely bringing their loved ones back to the family".

Meanwhile, Manipur Police Department PRO Khuplen Lhouvum (MPS) issued a press release stating that 13 cadres of the banned outfits KCP (PWG) and KYKL had laid down arms and surrendered to the government.

The release informed that the surrendered cadres, as per the revised scheme of Surrender cum Rehabilitation of Militants in North East States 2018 of the Union Ministry of Home, will receive Rs 4 lakh as a onetime financial grant.

The money will be deposited in the bank as a fixed deposit under the name of surrendered for 3 years.

The monthly pay will be Rs 6000.On top of this, they will be given incentives for the surrendered weapons, and the cadres will have to stay in a rehabilitation camp for three years.

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