UTLA (SK Thadou) signs tripartite agreement

IMPHAL, July 17: A tripartite agreement was signed by the Joint Secretary (NE) Shambu Singh of Union Ministry of Home Affairs on behalf of Union Government, Principal Secretary (Home) Dr. Suresh Babu on behalf of State Government and President and Secretary of the UTLA (SK Thadou) on behalf of the militant group at Inspection bunglow, Jiribam today.

45 cadres of the outfit in full uniform along with 42 numbers of weapons including AK-47, AK -56, M-16, Lethod gun, pistol etc. took part in the signing of the tripartite agreement.

According to an official press release, Shambhu Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary (North East), MHA has described “today's ceremony as another big step towards peace initiative and appealed to all the UG groups to abjure the path of violence and join the mainstream.

He lauded the efforts of all the stake holders involved in the process ”.

He had also said that home coming of these cadres shows that peace and normalcy is not very far from the state and further also asserted that the central government would be seriously looking into the developmental issues and ensure implementation of the necessary works, said the release.

Further according to a press statement, the Principal Secretary Home, Manipur had praised the cadres for their courage and wisdom in choosing to become responsible citizens of the state and contribute to progressive realization of people's peace aspirations.

UTLA chairman S K Thadou said that they have laid down arms as they desired peace, it said.

With this, all th esub factions of UTLA have now joined the peace process which will bring about peace and developments in the general area of Vangai Ridge, Jiribam and adjoining areas, it said.

Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that the arrest of an alleged extortionist by Jiribam police yesterday had reportedly resulted in a confrontation between personnel of the 22 AR led by one major Anand Tanti and the Jiribam Police.

It was reported that the man identified as the general secy of UTLA (SKT) was arrested red handed alongwith the extortion money which he had picked up from a decoy police team. Meanwhile, personnel of the AR had demanded that the arrested person be handed over to them and even used force to enter the police station.

It was also reported that the AR team had said that the man in police custody was supposed to take part in the home coming ceremony held today.

The Jiribam police had also registered a case against the Assam Rifles Major and his men under FIR No 39 (&) 2013 JBM PS for assaulting the Addl SP of Jiribam and for using force against police personnel on duty.