According to a highly placed source, the emergency meeting was summoned yesterday evening started from 4.30 pm till 6.30 pm at 1st MR Banquet hall with the representatives of Kuki underground groups with the government representatives chaired by the chief secretary of Manipur, DS Poonia.
The source further mentioned that the SoO meeting yesterday evening was called in a hurry to enable the Kuki undergrounds groups under the SoO to formally make request for calling another round of tripartite meeting making opportunity of meeting with the visiting BS Bansal, Secy. Internal Security of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Sambhu Singh, Joint Secy. NE incharge Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India who were in the state to attend the first round of tripartite meeting with the representatives of United Naga Council (UNC) which was held yesterday at DC office, Senapati.
The source further said, the sudden meeting of the SoO yesterday has discussed strategies to prevent any form of activities relating to extortions, kidnappings and threatening of the civilian populations by the cadres of the Kuki undergrounds groups which are signatory of the SoO pact.
The meeting as attended by official representatives from the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF and BSF apart from DGP Manipur and official of the state home department.
The tripartite meeting of SoO was also attended by BS Barsal, Secy. Internal Security (MHA), Sambhu Singh Joint Secy. NE in charge (MHA) representing the Government of India.
The source further mentioned that the matter relating to early completion of the already designated camps for the cadres and timely payment of the monthly honouriums for recognised cadres and enhancement of monthly honorioum were the main proposals from Kuki underground present during meeting yesterday.
--IFP
Among others the meeting, attended by officials of the State and Central Government and leaders of various Kuki armed groups, is informed to have focused on the issue of abduction cases involving activists of Kuki armed groups and acts of violence in violation of ceasefire (SoO) ground rules.
An informed source said Government officials at the meeting conveyed strong annoyance to leader of the Kuki armed groups against the recent spate in violent activities that had resulted in loss of life.
~ TSE
Chaired by Commissi-oner (Home), the meeting of the JMG was held separa-tely with KNO and UPF, the two umbrella bodies of the Kuki UG groups which have signed SoO with the Government of India and Mani- pur, according to an official source.
Along with reviewing progress of the construction works over setting de- signated camps for armed UG cadres both under KNO and UPF, the meeting has given strong instruction for speeding up the construction work, the source disclosed.
As construction of a de-signated camp of KNO is yet to be started, the meeting also discussed on selec- tion of a site and accordingly resolved that a joint team of Assam Rifles, Police and other representatives concerned would be deputed for site selection and finalisation.
For setting up solar lighting system and water sup- ply scheme in all the designated camps as well as for construction of community halls at suitable locations, the meeting discussed that relevant projects should be worked out under Manipur Development Society so as to implement them at the earliest possible.
As construction of a de-signated camp of ZRA is also still pending, the meeting decided that a joint in- vestigation team should be deputed for preparing a pro-gress report and the same team would be pressed into the service for reviewing progress in other designated camps as well.
The source explained that there is no separate provision for the leaders in the stipend being given to the armed UG cadres by the Go-vernment of India. Every group members are being treated as cadre and they are being provided a stipend amount of Rs 3000 every month.
The stipend for the KNO and UPF cadres have been cleared till June and it is yet to be cleared for the ZRA. The fund for payment of stipend for the months of July, August and September to the cadres of KNO and UPF have already been sanctioned and the same is likely to be released very soon, the source disclosed.
All the SoO signatories UG groups are given strong instruction against violating the ground rules, source added.
~ TSE
