Violating SoO ground rules Delhi, Imp talk tough

IMPHAL, Mar 1 : Taking a serious view of the allegations raised against some Kuki armed groups, the Centre and the State Government have made it clear that they would not remain silent if the cadres of the armed groups, which have signed the Suspension of Operation agreement, violate the ground rules and extort and harass the public. This strong message was conveyed to the leaders of the KNO and UPF during the fourth meeting of the SoO held yesterday with Additional Chief Secretary (Home) DS Poonia in the chair. The meeting was attended by the Joint Secretary of the Home Affairs (North East) Navin Verma, IG Intelligence LM Khaute and representatives from the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF and Intelligence Department.If the armed groups in talks with the Government engage in abducting Government officials and the public for ransom, serve extortion demands on the public, then the Government will take up fitting action, the UPF and KNO leaders were told, said a source. To pay a monthly allowance of Rs 2000 each per cadre per month to 800 men of the KNO and 1000 men of the UPF with effect from January this year, the Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 36 lakhs, said the source further. The Government has made it clear that they will not pay allowance to overground workers and cadres who are stationed outside the State. On top of the 11 designated camps identified for the KNO and UPF one more camp for the UPF has been identified, said the source and added that construction work of the camps will start from this month. The designated camps are located at Churachandpur, Chandel and Sadar Hills, said the source and added that a sum of Rs 2.75 crore has been deposited with the Manipur Police Housing Corporation. The need material will be supplied by the Government and construction work will be taken up by the cadres of the outfits. At the moment the Army, AR, police and SIB are keeping a watch over the sites of the designated camps.