Mantripukhuri,March 24: Eight militants belonging to five different armed groups in Manipur laid down arms and ammunitions and surrendered to Assam Rifles today.
The formal surrender ceremony was held here at Assam Rifles headquarter in presence of Manipur’s Director General of Police Yumnam Joykumar,Inspector General of Assam Rifles(South),Major General CA Krishnan,Commander of 26 Sector,Superintendent of Police L Kailun of Imphal West district,other officers of the Assam Rifles and family members.
The surrendered militants laid down 7 pistols including five 9mm pistols with their magazines and 37 live rounds,1 hand grenade,5 lethod bombs,one kenwood radio set,5 detonators,65 live rounds of AK Rifles.
The surrendered cadres are Gopal Sharma alias Laimkaiba,25 of Kwakeithel Thokchom Leikai,Hemanta alias Manimatum,20 of proscribed United National Liberation Front,A Rajesh alias Raju,18 of Wangoo Tera,L Thoi alias Tomba,18 of Wangoo Chairen Saban of the banned United People’s Party of Kangleipak,Jelen Khangembam alias Boni,25 of Kumbi Awang Leikai of People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak,Kabikanta alias Thoiba,20 of Wangkhem of Kangleipak Communist Party(MTF),Angom Naocha Meitei,25 and Konjengbam Manoranjan alias Sanjit,22 both from Moirang and cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party(Lamyanba Khuman).
Speaking on the occasion Manipur DGP Y Joykumar said with the recent induction of 3 hovercrafts besides procuring 6 more ‘mechanised boats’, Manipur police would be well equipped to dominate Manipur’s Loktak Lake,the safe haven for the militants by constant patrolling shortly.
The state police chief further said that they’ll be able to dominate the lake area within few months time,with the arrival of 6 mechanised boats.
The state had become the first police force in the country having 3 military assault hovercrafts from USA. Though the hovercrafts have limited capacity, each machanised boat can accommodate around 30 persons.
The state police Chief said, “We’ve also taking up certain development activities besides other CI(counter insurgency)Ops”.
With the initiative of the ruling secular progressive front government in Manipur,the state strength of state police force has increased from 15,414 to 24,618 in the last two years.
Earlier not to speak of public even the security forces avoid places such as Umathel or Sajik Tampak,he said.But the rate of unwanted activities has been declined in the last few years with the public support and the existing manpower.
Appealing to the surrendered militants not to involve in the easy money earning (extortion) activities which is said to be ‘tempting’ again but to lead a normal life by working hard,he further said,so it’s right to come out and join the mainstream to lead a successful life in the society.
