Imphal: A total of 20 cadres from four different outfits surrendered with arms before the Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh during a homecoming ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battallion Manipur Rifles, here on Tuesday.
Sixteen of the surrendered militants were from Thadou People’s Liberation Army (TPLA) including its chairman, one each from PLA and PREPAK (Pro) and two from another group.
“I am very happy that people are now realising and coming back in the mainstream so that they can also join in the development and peace process of the state government and the nation.” Biren told reporters.
“Now the time has come for a political solution in all the sections of the people who are in the underground. Please come out let’s have a political dialogue and let us keep Manipur a peaceful state and India as a whole. Let us work for the development of the nation,” he said.
Altogether 15 arms and 75 assorted ammunition including one AK-56 Rifle, one M15 Rifle, one MK 33 Riffle, one Uzi SMG, one lathod gun, 1 Glock 19 Pistol, six 9 mm pistols, two .32 pistols and one .22 pistol were laid before the chief minister.
Biren handed over cheques (financial benifit) to the surrendered militants under the Revised Scheme for Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation of Militants in the North East States, 2018 of the MHA.
Under the revised scheme benefits given to them include a one-time financial grant of Rs 4 lakh to each cadre, which is to be kept in a bank, in their respective name as fixed deposit for a period of three years. Incentives for surrendered weapons have also been provided. The surrendered militants will stay in a rehabilitation camp for three years during which they will be paid monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 for a period of three years.
This was the second home coming ceremony for surrendered militants after BJP comes to power in the state. Around 80 militants surrendered in the first ceremony. The surrendering of 20 militants with arms is very important, Biren said.
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