Five militant cadres lay down arms

IMPHAL, March 26: Five underground militants belonging to different underground organizations of the state laid down their weapons in front of  Anup Chand Thapliyal, Inspector General Manipur and Cachar Frontier Border security force (BSF) in a home coming ceremony held at the 116 Battalion transit Headquarters at Loktak today noon under the aegis of Sector headquarter Border Security Force Counter Insurgency Operations Manipur

The underground militant who laid down arms today  included a Self styled Lance Corporal of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Thonglal alias James of Aina village Churachandpur district; Self style Lance Corporal Tungdim Khaiminthang alias Khamlenmang of Tuinuphai village, Churachandpur district; Self style Corporal (UNLF) Thangkhogin Simte of Zoutong village, Churachandpur district; Md Aktar alias Babul of Keirao Makting Awang Leikai, Imphal East district, a cadre of the People United Liberation Front (PULF) and Self style Corporal of the Kangleipak Communist Party ( Military council) KCP-MC, Ravi alias Athouba of Sekmaijing village of Thoubal district

The arms and ammunition which were laid down today include one lethod gun along with one lethod shell, three 9 mm pistols along with 9 live rounds, two hand grenades and one wireless set.

Speaking at the home coming ceremony, Anup Chand Thapliyal  welcomed the five cadres and said that their initiative to join the mainstream of civil society is due to the motivation given by the personnal of the Battalion. He reiterated," The heart can be won by the heart and not by the bullet"while adding that the Border Security Force will first screen those who have laid down their weapons and do whatever is possible as part of the rehabilitation process.

The home coming ceremony was attended by SC Budakoti, Director Inspector General (G) Manipur and Cachar frontier Border Security Force, Officers of the state police, BSF officials and family members of the underground militants.