AN official statement said that the “surrender” was facilitated through the coordinated efforts of the District Police, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, Assam Rifles and the Army, and that security forces will continue their efforts to encourage more militants to return to the mainstream.
TFM Report
In a significant development in Manipur’s ongoing peace process, 46 cadres of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party–People’s War Group (KCP-PWG) “surrendered” before the state government on Tuesday, laying down 28 firearms along with explosives and ammunition under the Centre’s rehabilitation programme for former militants.
The surrender, as per PIB Defence Wing, took place during a “Homecoming Ceremony” organised by the Manipur Home Department at the Headquarters of the Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) in Mantripukhri, Imphal.
The cadres “surrendered” before Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh as part of the Revised Scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of Militants in the North Eastern States, 2018.
According PIB Defence Wing, the “surrendered” weapons included three AK-series rifles, four AK-56 rifles, one INSAS Ex-Calibur rifle, one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), one 9 mm carbine, three .303 rifles, one RPG launcher, two 9 mm pistols, one 7.65 mm pistol, two double-barrel guns and nine single-barrel guns.
The cache also included 16 magazines, nine RPG shells, 23 hand grenades, 40 electric detonators, six No. 27 detonators, 300 blasting caps, seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) weighing around 15 kg, seven communication devices and 342 rounds of ammunition.
Under the rehabilitation scheme, each surrendered cadre will receive a one-time financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh, which will be kept as a fixed deposit for three years. They will also receive a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 during the rehabilitation period, along with incentives for surrendered weapons. The cadres will stay at a rehabilitation camp for three years and undergo vocational training to facilitate their reintegration into society.
The state government said the surrender was facilitated through coordinated efforts by the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, Army, CRPF, BSF and ITBP, adding that security forces would continue encouraging more insurgents to return to the mainstream.
Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh described the “surrender” as a positive step towards restoring peace in the state and welcomed the cadres’ decision to renounce violence.
He said Manipur had witnessed peaceful coexistence among different communities before the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, and noted that the conflict had led to the looting of around 1,200 weapons, worsening the law-and-order situation.
“Gun culture can never build a good society. Violence cannot provide lasting solutions to any problem. Peace, dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation are the only ways to secure a better future for our state,” the Chief Minister said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of those returning to the mainstream and commended the efforts of the Manipur Police and central security forces for protecting civilians and displaced persons during the prolonged conflict.
Director General of Police Mukesh Singh said lasting peace in Manipur could not be achieved through security measures alone and stressed the need for public participation, socio-economic development and effective implementation of government initiatives.
The DGP said the rehabilitation policy had been strengthened to encourage more insurgents to surrender and revealed that 851 militants have joined the rehabilitation initiative since its inception, with many already completing the rehabilitation process and returning to normal life.
The surrendered cadres will stay at a rehabilitation camp for three years, where they will undergo vocational training in trades of their choice to help them earn a sustainable livelihood after completing the programme.
The official statement added that the surrender was facilitated through the coordinated efforts of the District Police, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, Assam Rifles and the Army, and that security forces will continue their efforts to encourage more militants to return to the mainstream.
Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, senior police officials, MLAs and officers of the security forces attended the ceremony.
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