IMPHAL, Oct 25 ? Despite tall promises made by the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to provide government jobs to all surrendered militants, the government is in a position not to fulfil the same due to various reasons.
The state Cabinet with Chief Minister in the chair, on Saturday night, has taken a decision to recruit 70 numbers of surrendered rebels of different outfits although 82 numbers of renegades have threatened to launch fast unto death to absorb themselves as rifles and police personnel in the state home department.
This has clearly indicated that a dozen of surrendered insurgents have to incur the negligence of state government despite promises of giving government jobs to them during the surrendered ceremonies in the state. The cabinet decision to provide jobs to 70 surrendered ultras of various outfits has to leave out many of them in the lurch.
In fear of their lives, the surrendered rebels are now languishing inside barrack of the first Manipur Rifles dog squad here, despite state government?s failure to clear their monthly stipend of Rs 2000 to each surrenderee in the past four years.
Interestingly, the numbers of surrendered insurgents taking shelters under the protection of the state have decreased from 105 to 82 at present because of killing expedition carried out by the insurgents while the renegades were out of security stations. Besides, some of the surrenderees fled from the barrack and rejoined to their earlier outfits due to negligence of the state government.
Over 1,007 posts are lying vacant in the state home department for establishment of 4th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and promotion in the rank and file in the state home department. Chief Minister who also holds home portfolio has said that his Government will provide jobs to all the outlaws, who gave up arms and embraced normal life adding that those surrendered persons should be recruited in the IRB after going though the customary appointment process. Centre has sanctioned Rs 12 crore for the new IRB battalion and the recruitment processes are still going on. Altogether, 109 posts have been reserved for the surrendered insurgents, die-in hardness, sportspersons and reserved for promotion from the rank of follower.
There are over 22 insurgent outfits with the strength of over 15,000 in Manipur. These outfits are turning down meaningful peace talks offered by the governments at the centre and the state. Their common demand is to make a sovereign state to be carved out from India.
The surrendered ultras now seeking jobs in the state government home department belonged to the banned UNLF, KYKL, PLA, Prepak, PULF, INLF, ILF, NSCN-K, NSCN-IM, KCP and NEMF. They are presently utilized their services in security jobs at Thoubal, Bishnupur and Imphal West Commando units, 2nd Manipur Rifles, 1st MR, 1st IRB, 2nd IRB and 7 MR.