Manipur ultras reject ceasefire offer

IMPHAL, March 1: The banned People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) today rejected the Radhabinod Koijam Government's ceasefire offer to all 17 insurgent outfits and suspension of counter-insurgency operations against them by the army in the State, reports PTI. The PREPAK in a statement here said, the government's offer was 'a trick' to all underground groups and underground cadres 'into lowering their guard.' The Chief Minister on February 27 had declared a month's ceasefire to the insurgent groups, effective from today, during which police and paramilitary forces would not carry out any action or operation against them. The army had also announced suspension of operations against insurgents for 15 days from today. The PREPAK said its objective was to fight for 'Independence of Manipur' and would continue to do so in spite of the ceasefire and army's suspension of operations. Besides PREPAK, insurgent groups including People's Liberation Army (PLA) and United National Front (UNLF) are operating in the State for waging an armed struggle for an 'Independent Manipur', official sources said. The Chief Minister had said militants should respond positively, stop extortion, kidnapping and violence during the ceasefire period, but warned that police and paramilitary forces would retaliate if attacked. The Manipur cabinet, he had said, would review the present law-and-order either on March 6 or 7 and decide the future course of action after assessing the situation or response to the unilateral ceasefire.