12 cadres of Liberation Tigers of Tribals including its chairman lay down arms, surrender

Imphal: Twelve cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tribals (LTT) including its chairman, the outfit’s deputy chairman and the outfit’s army chief laid down their arms and ammunition before Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh at a “homecoming ceremony” held today at the Banquet Hall of the First Battalion Manipur Rifles in Imphal.

The surrendered weapons include one M16 rifle, two AK56 rifles, one .22 rifle, one double barrel gun, one carbine, two 9mm pistols, one lathode gun along with one Chinese hand grenade and one hand held set.

Speaking on the occasion, N. Biren Singh congratulated the cadres on their “voluntary home coming” to the mainstream stating that the cadres have now faith in the Indian Constitution and the governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He reiterated Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s words that not a single bullet would be fired on those militants who want to return to their normal lives and join the national mainstream and no FIR would be lodged against them unless they are involved in a heinous crime. He appealed to paramilitary forces, the army and Police to keep the Union Home Minister’s commitment to encourage more cadres of militant groups to come to the mainstream.

Biren maintained that there should not be any complication in the procedures to be followed for underground groups coming to the mainstream, adding the State Government had opened up a single window facility to facilitate underground groups in coming back. He expressed satisfaction on high ranking militants joining the mainstream and added that many more are ready to come back. He expressed hopefulness that the State would be able to end militancy in the coming 3 to 4 years through political dialogues and homecomings.

Mentioning that the government has political will and commitment to bring peace in the state, the Chief Minister instructed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to disburse the rehabilitation benefits to be given to the home coming cadres timely in a time bound manner. “Such an initiative would create a positive message towards other militant groups on the steps taken up by the government especially for surrendered cadres”, he added.

Also read | ‘One People, One Destiny’: Naga Solidarity Walk beyond boundaries to kick off on July 28

Biren then appealed to all the underground groups to come back to the mainstream stating the political scenario of the state had changed. He further appealed to all to take their parts in nation building and in making “One India”.

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 to be given to the surrendered cadres included a one-time financial grant of Rs. 4 lakh to each surrendered cadre, which is to be kept in their respective bank accounts as a fixed deposit for a period of three years; monthly stipends of Rs 6000 per person and incentives for surrendered weapons. Surrendered cadres will stay in a rehabilitation camp for a period of three years where they would be given various vocational training.