Thirteen militants belonging to two proscribed outfits surrendered with their firearms before Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday after which the CM appealed to all insurgent outfits to come for peace talks. The surrendered insurgents include 12 of the Kangleipak Communist Party-People’s War Group (KCP-PWG) and one from the Kanglei Yawol Kanba Lup (KYKL).
The Chief Minister, who was speaking at the ‘homecoming ceremony’ at the First Manipur Rifles complex, urged all the militant outfits to come to the negotiating table. CM Biren Singh asserted that peace has returned to the state that has suffered insurgency problems since the 1960s. “Peace is prevailing in Manipur under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and militants from various outfits are returning to the mainstream,” the PTI quoted the CM as saying.
“I appeal to all the insurgent outfits to come for peace talks. As Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said, ‘not a single bullet will be fired and no FIR will be lodged’ upon surrender,” the chief minister added.
The militants, dressed in camouflage uniforms, laid down two M-79 grenade launchers, also known as ‘lathode guns’, three 9 mm pistols, two detonators and two radio sets among other items, reported news agency PTI.
“They have faith in the state govt as well as in schemes by the Center and that insurgency is no way to solve the problems,” said P Doungel, DGP, Manipur, according to ANI
Meanwhile, Amit Shah on Thursday said that the Centre has decided to resolve all border disputes between the northeastern states and all issues related to armed groups before 2024.
Shah presided over the signing of a historic agreement between the Centre, Assam government and representatives of eight Adivasi Groups in New Delhi. “The accord will prove to be another important milestone towards making the northeast extremism-free by 2025,” said Shah according to the news agency ANI. He said this was in step with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous northeast.
