A senior Manipur Government officer has said the Centre and the state government are making concerted efforts to convince insurgents to surrender arms and rejoin mainstream society.
Manipur's Principal Secretary (Home) J.Suresh Babu revealed that the recent surrender of 155 insurgents affiliated to four militant outfits is reflective of this joint effort.
Recently, the insurgents and representatives of the state government inked a suspension of operation pact. The surrender took place before Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh.
The surrendered cadres included 44 members of KCP (Nongdrenkhomba), 53 of Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF), 50 from KNLF and 8 cadres from KYKL.
The surrendered arms included AK-assault rifles, pistols, IEDs, grenades and other ammunition.
Ningthoujam Romen, Commander in Chief, KCP, said: "People in the region want us to join the mainstream. I want to live my life on the right path and work for the people."
This is being seen as a significant step in the direction of bringing back misled youth to the mainstream.
