Imphal: Twenty militants from different underground outfits laid down arms before Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in a Homecoming Ceremony organized by the State Home Department at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles here on Tuesday.
Chief Minister said that Central Government’s development policy for North Eastern States had witnessed a sea change ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country. N. Biren said the Central Government has been constantly working towards bringing development of NE States at par with other States of the country, and people of the region should acknowledge and appreciate it.
The Chief Minister assured the surrendered cadres that the Government would never disappoint them. Informing that the State now has a comprehensive Surrender cum Rehabilitation scheme under which they would get different rehabilitation benefits, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would definitely help them in leading a dignified life having suitable means of livelihood.
He also urged all the members of different armed outfits to come to the negotiating table and join the mainstream, stating that peace is very essential to achieve progress and development. Maintaining that Manipur is now on the path of development with hundreds of youth contributing their mite in economic growth through entrepreneurship in the past four years, the Chief Minister pointed out that all these were possible due to restoration of peace in the State.
Under the Revised Scheme for Surrender-Cum Rehabilitation of Militants in the North East States, 2018 of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, rehabilitation benefits given to the surrendered cadres included a one-time financial grant of Rs. 4 lakh to each cadre, which is to be kept in a bank in their names as fixed deposit for a period of three years. They will stay in a rehabilitation camp for three years during which they will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs. 6,000 each.
Incentives for surrendered weapons have also been provided. The cadres, who have joined the mainstream, included 16 from Thadou People’s Liberation Army (TPLA), two from UNLF, one each from PLA and PREPAK (Pro). They brought one AK-56 Rifle, one M-15 Rifle, one MK-33 Rifle, one Uzi SMG, one Lathod gun, one Glock 19 pistol, six 9mm pistols, two .32 pistols, one .22 pistol and 75 assorted ammunitions. (UNI)
