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Our Correspondent
Imphal, March 9 (EMN): Altogether 20 cadres from different proscribed outfits in Manipur laid down arms before the chief minister, N Biren Singh, in a ‘homecoming’ ceremony organised by the state Home department at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles in Imphal today.
In the day's homecoming ceremony, the surrendered cadres from different outfits also handed over 15 arms and 75 assorted ammunitions including one AK-56 rifle, one MK 33 rifles, one Uzi SMG, one lathod gun, one Glock 19 pistol, six 9mm pistols, two .32 pistols and one .22 pistol, according to police department sources.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said that central government’s development policy for North eastern states had witnessed a sea change ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of the country.
Informing that the state now has formulated a comprehensive surrender-cum-rehabilitation scheme under which they would get different rehabilitation benefits, he said that the state government would definitely help them in leading a normal life.
He also urged to abjure violence and join the mainstream, stating that peace is essential to achieve progress and development. Maintaining that Manipur is now on the path of development with hundreds of youth contributing their mite in economic growth through entrepreneurship in the past four years, he pointed out that all these were possible due to restoration of peace in the state.
Cabinet ministers, MLAs, top civil, police, paramilitary and army officers were also present at the occasion.
Under the revised scheme for surrender-cum-rehabilitation of militants in the Northeast states 2018 of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, rehabilitation benefits given to the surrendered cadres included a one-time financial grant of INR 4 lakh to each cadre, which is to be kept in a bank in their names as fixed deposit for a period of three years. They would stay in a rehabilitation camp for three years during which they would be paid a monthly stipend of INR 6,000 each, sources said. Incentives for surrendered weapons have also been provided.