Imphal, July 19 2010: Even though the Centre had lifted ban on the two factions of the NSCN, they are still considered unlawful organisations in the state, said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the State Assembly today while asserting that a total of 324 criminal and other cases were registered by the state police in the last 13 years since the outfit began to maintain ceasefire with the Government of India.

In reply to a question raised by MLA RK Anand of MPP from the opposition bench, the Chief Minister who is also looking after the home portfolio said that out of the 324 cases, charge-sheets of three cases have been submitted, 179 cases returned in FR (Final Report) and 142 cases are pending.

Leaders of the NSCN(IM) were also involved in some of the cases registered against criminal and other activities of the outfit.

He also put down the year-wise cases registered against the outfit during the last 13 year from 1997 till June 30 of the current year, 2010 in the House asserting that six were registered in 1997, 27 in 1998, 42 in 1999, 39 in 2000, 25 in 2001, 33 in 2002, 15 in 2003, 27 in 2004, 17 in 2005, 20 in 2006, 23 in 2007, 26 in 2008, 17 in 2009 and 7 in 2010 till June 30 .

However, he added Manipur government had returned all the cases against the two factions pending till 1997 as part of paving ways to sign the ceasefire trust with GoI considering the initiative taken up for peace in the neighbouring state of Nagaland.

On the question of government ban on the entry of general secretary of NSCN(IM) into Manipur territory, the Chief Minister said that Th Muivah is the leader of an outfit which is ban in the state.

Even though Government of India lifted ban on the two the factions of the NSCN (IM and K) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, state government is not lifting the same.

The two organisations signing ceasefire trust with the government of the India since 1997 but the same do not cover Manipur.

That was why, government refused to the insistent of the Union ministry of Home affairs to allow Muivah to enter the state and visit his native village, Ibobi reiterated.

"We convinced the ground reasons behind our objection to the ministry's (Union Home Ministry) insistence to allow him (Muivah) to inter into the state and also warned of arresting him if he tries to enter forcibly," Ibobi said in the House of the state Assembly while giving reply to a question raised from the opposition bench.

In reply to the supplementary question raised, opposition member MLA RK Anand of Manipur People Party (MPP) asked why not state government tried to arrest Th Muivah when he travels openly within the country, the Chief Minister reiterated that the outfit is no more ban by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ibobi also recalled that in 1997 during NK Narayan was the Governor of Manipur he had initiated the Union Home Ministry on arresting Th Muivah in connection with the pending cases against him by placing the details of the investigations of the cases but the ministry had not given any comment or reply in it.

Not only Muivah but leaders and cadres of the two factions of the NSCN(IM) will be arrested if they were intercepted by the security forces engaging in counter insurgency operation, the Chief Minister said reiterating government stand on the proposed bur deferred visit of Th Muivah in the state.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister today admitted in the House that some cadres of the Kuki based militants under Suspension of Operation are violating round rules of the tripartite agreement signed with government of India and Manipur on one side and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People Front (UPF) separately on the other side.

Actions against the violators are taking up after the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) headed by the state Chief Secretary examined the cases of violations.

As for instant, the monthly stipends enjoyed by the leaders and cadres of Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRO), a group under UPF is held up since the group's involvement in extortion of Rs 4 lakh from a bank in Churachandpur district.

The action against the outfit is a warning to other ground rule violators and as many as 30 cases of violation of ground rules by 19 outfits maintaining trust under the SoO are under close examination.

In reply to cross question, the Chief Minister said that developments of infrastructures of 10 designation camps are under progress.

Once the constructions of the designation camps completed and cadres were allowed to stay by depositing their arms under the agreements, the extortion activities and other violation of ground rules could be checked, he said admitting that cadres of the outfits currently staying nearby the Assam Rifles camps used to come out in the night time to carry out extortion and other crimes.

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