Ex-UGs threaten serial suicide in Manipur

Imphal, July 02: Peeved at the Government’s failure to frame a rehabilitation package for surrendered militants, a section of the former militants have today threatened to commit a serial suicide if the Government fails to announce a proper rehabilitation package during the Monsoon session of the State Assembly. Speaking to reporters at the Commando Barrack near Minuthong today, representatives of the ex-UGs questioned why the Government was not providing proper rehabilitation to the former militants who have surrendered to the call of both the State and the Central Government to return to the mainstream. Stating that the failure of the Government in this regard is akin to supporting militancy, they demanded they be handed over to the Government of Assam or Nagaland or Tripura along with their surrendered weapons if the State Government cannot provide rehabilitation. Maintaining that rehabilitation schemes for surrendered militants are taken up adequately in the three States, the former militants lamented that such a package has been missing in Manipur even though some of them surrendered about two and half years back. The benefits of the scheme should be provided to the surrendered militants once their surrender period crosses one year, they added. Pointing out that have not been getting the benefits of such a scheme, the ex-UGs said the Government has not given surrender reward, weapons reward and even ration money. As such they have been surviving by begging from their families and the army. They said the number of surrendered militants has come down to 85 from the 105 after some had been killed, some expelled for impersonating while some others had deserted the camp. Of these 10 are former PLA cadres, 19 UNLF, 4 PREPAK, 1 NSCN (IM), 2 NSCN (K), 7 KCP, 18 KYKL, 11 INF, 12 PULF and 1 ILF (K) cadres. The surrendered UGs are kept dispersed in Imphal East PS, Imphal West PS, 11 IRB, 12 IRB, Thoubal PS, Bishnupur PS, 1 MR, 2 MR and 7 MR, they added.