Nine insurgents lay down arms

Imphal, Mar 13 (UNI) Nine militants belonging to six different organisations today surrendered before GOC of 3 Corps, Lt Gen Z U Shah at the IG, Assam Rifles (South) office at Mantripukhri.

They also laid down six carbines, AK 46 rifles, three pistols and a large number of ammunition and equipment.

Lt Gen Shah welcoming the nine youths to the mainstream said Manipur was one of the worst affected insurgency states and ''we should try to end the problem through peaceful means''.

He said rehabilitation programmes were also introduced for the cadres who surrender. They would be imparted with vocational training and given Rs 2,000 each for three years and Rs 1.5 lakhs will be kept as fixed deposit for them.

Gen Shah said the Army will now launch a major offensive against militants in Chandel district as large numbers of militants were operating in the area. But the Indian army will not violate international boundary with Myanmar when the operations were carried out, he assured.

Actions will be taken against any jawan who violated human rights of the people, he said.

Maj General B S Ghotra, IG, AR South, said the word 'surrender' was derogatory and hence the function has been named as 'home coming' so that the cadres who surrender do not feel offended.

Civil officials, police, CRPF and BSF personnel were also present in the function.

Meanwhile, an encounter took place between Assam Rifles and suspected militants at Kumbi in Bishenpur district. Details of the encounter are awaited.

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