Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, August 29:
The general law and order situation in the north east region is showing improvement, the Union minister of state for home, ID Swami informed Parliament yesterday.
Answering a question posed by state Lok Sabha MP Holkhomang Haokip, the Union minister said this assessment was on the basis of information gathered regarding the number of insurgents killed, arrested and surrendered during the year 2000 and upto August 15 this year.
The Union minister disclosed that during the period ending August 15 this year, altogether 332 militants belonging to various groups of the north east were killed, of which 97 were killed in Manipur.
Whereas last year, 585 in total had been killed, including 102 in Manipur.
He further informed that in 2000, altogether 1538 members of extremist groups were arrested in the seven states, while the number arrested in the period from January to August 15 this year was 762, Altogether 1962 militants surrendered in 2000, while this year 690 surrendered till August 15.While stating that the government has entered into ceasefires with the NSCN(IM), the NSCN(K) and the BLT, he also informed the House that the Kuki National Army, KNA, has offered for negotiations with the government but no other group in the region has come forward.
In another written reply to questions raised by Holkhomang Haokip as to what action has been taken so far against the 15 tainted and 197 blacklisted NGOs in Manipur run by politicians having nexus with underground outfits as per the Union home ministry's office memorandum issued in December last year, Swami informed the House yesterday that the ministry of home affairs has requested all the Central ministries in September last year to suspend further allocation of duns to NGOs in Manipur until a thorough personal, verification is carried out of the utilization of funds by senior officers from the government of India.