Imphal, June 30 : Complying with the decision taken during the 7th round meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) held yesterday in the state with regard to the Suspension of Operation, SoO, signed by the Union government, state government and Kuki militants under the banner of the KNO and UPF, SM Kandwal the under secretary of the ministry of home affairs inspected the designated camp approved by the government at Mongbung in Churachandpur district this afternoon.
According to a highly placed official source, the meeting was held at the 1st MR banquet hall from 10 am and was presided by additional chief secretary of Manipur, DS Poonia, chairman (JMG), and attended by MC Mehnathan, director of the Intelligence Bureau representing the Union ministry, Ajay Rana, DIG, Assam Rifles Manipur and Nagaland sector, an staff officer of 57 Mt Div and DIG CRPf representing the Army and Para military forces. IGP, Intelligence of the police departement LM Khoute representing the state forces. The meeting was also attended by five leaders each from the KNO/KNA and UPF at 1st MR Banquet hall.
The official source further said, chairman of the JMG, DS Poonia gave the status report on the SoO in which he mentioned that the government had made arrangements for Rs. 2000 each monthly stipend to the cadres of the outfit of various militant groups included under KNO/KNA and UPF who have issued their identity cards by the government.
And due to the failure to submit the names of the cadres of outfits to the concerned police stations by the outfit for making of identity cards the stipends could not be given to the cadres.
On the other hand, there is concern among officials over the increasing imposition of monetary demands, extortions and kidnapping by the Kuki UG groups which are under the SoO and many government officials representing both from the state and Centre have drawn the attention of the outfit’s leaders to consider the arising issues of extortions and kidnappings by the cadres which is totally against the agreed ground rules of the SoO.
The source further mentioned that the representatives of the outfits heard the observations made by the government officials during the meeting yesterday, and agreed to an increase of the stipend of the cadres and recognised their proposed designated camps in various parts of the state.
The JMG meeting approved only one designated camp operated under KNA/KNO at Mongbung area of Saikot sub-division which is about 20 km east of Churachandpur district headquarter along the road connecting Sugunu-Churachandpur, following the presentation of all necessary documents to maintain the designated camp.
In the meantime, as per decision taken yesterday during the JMG meeting SM Kandwal escorted by the personnel of 6th IRB made an official inspection of the recognised designated camp operated by the KNA/KNO at Mongbung village in Saikot AC of Churachandpur district this afternoon along with the district deputy commissioner, Sumant Singh, the official source added.
It may be mentioned during the 5th round meeting of JMG held in the state last year, the representatives of KNA/KNO and UPF have proposed a total of 15 designated camps for the approval of the government, but due to the failure to provide necessary details by the various outfits to the government, the proposed designated camps could not be accepted by the government and as a result the finalisation of ground rules for the SoO could not be made till today the, official source added.