Twelve militants surrender in Imphal

Twelve militants belonging to the Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) surrendered before the army on Saturday and were brought to Imphal.

The cadres surrendered along with self-styled Second Lieutenant Lal Denga before Brigadier Rajiv Mankotia, Commander 26 Sector Head Quarter Assam Rifles.

They surrendered to the 9th Assam rifles under 26th Sector Assam Rifles at Moreh along with arms and ammunitions.

Second lieutenant of KNLF, Lal Denga said that they took the decision to surrender, as they loved their country and their family.

"Because we have decided that we love our land; India, we love our family members, we love our friends so we have decided that if Kuki politics can go hand in hand with the government then that is better ; so we decided and we just came out with the orders of higher our authorities, higher officials," said Denga.

The arms surrendered by the cadres included five AK-47 rifles, two AK-22 Rifles and four Self Loading Rifles (SLR) including 700 rounds of ammunitions.

The surrender took place at Lajang village near Old Samtal where a party of 9 Assam Rifles led by Major Vikas received the cadres who had earlier in the day escaped from the Lajang camp.

The surrendered militants cadres were later brought to Imphal.

The surrendered militants revealed that they were misguided and ill treated by People Liberation army (PLA) and united national liberation front (UNLF) cadres and they were inspired by the government policy allowing rehabilitation of militants.

Speaking on the occasion, Brigadier Rajiv Mankotia, Cdr 26 Sect AR assured the surrendered militants of rehabilitation.

He also emphasized that young people of Manipur were the backbone and the future of Manipur and integrating them into the mainstream was the main aim of Assam Rifles.