IMPHAL, Apr 13: Self styled sergeant major and self styled colonel of the PREPAK (Pro) surrendered before Chief Minister N Biren in a solemn surrender programme held at the CM’s Secretariat today evening after they were brought to Imphal from Moreh by a team of Tengnoupal police.
The surrender programme was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, Council of Ministers, DGP LM Khaute, Additional Secretary (Home) J Suresh Babu and several high ranking officials of civil and police.
The two surrendered cadres of the outfit are identified as self styled sergeant Major (Finance Section) Salam Sitoljit (28) @ Seven Kumar @ Seven Star @ 70 s/o Phulchand of Uripok Khumanthem Leikai and self styled colonel (Civil Section) Pebam Bishorjit @ Tomcha (24) s/o Rojit of Kiyamgei Awang Leikai.
One of the officials of Home Department claimed that Sitoljit joined PREPAK (Pro) in December 2006 with army number 26897 of 26th batch before he left Eastern Nagaland Battalion Number 2 Taka Camp, Myanmar while Bishorjit joined the outfit with army number 34821 of 34 batch and left Noket Camp Nongpok Chingkhei Ngakpa Camp, Myanmar to join the mainstream.
Speaking to media persons after the surrender programme, CM Biren said that the two ‘misguided’ youths decided to surrender before the Government due to the belief and confidence in the measures taken up by the newly formed Government in a few months.
He asserted that two youths sensing the prevailing situation in the State want to live a peaceful life by giving up the path of violence.
Some armed cadres who want to join the mainstream might be reluctant to do so due to the failure of the previous Government in providing assurances given to those cadres who surrendered in the past, he stated.
The CM assured that life, property and family of those armed cadres who surrender before the Government will be protected and they wll be provided shelter and way of living.
He also assured that the Government will review the surrender package.
According to a reliable source, the two surrendered PREPAK (Pro) cadres came out of Myanmar territory today early morning and first surrendered to Moreh police station, Tengnoupal district at around 4.30 am.
Soon after the surrender, a team of Moreh police led by SP Tengnoupal Somorjeet and Additonal SP Mobi brought the two youths to Imphal.
Source: The Sangai Express
