Manipur govt signs agreement with militant outfit

Manipur government has signed a suspension of operation (SOO) agreement with militant outfit United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) following the surrender of its 45 cadre before the authorities along with large number of arms, official sources said today.
The tripartite agreement was signed by state home secretary Suresh Babu, joint secretary of Union home ministry (North East) Sambhu Singh as a representative of Centre and president of UTLA S K Thadou yesterday at government inspected bungalow at Jiribam town, sources said.
Sources said under the agreement, government forces would stop operation against UTLA militants who are now in a camp of Assam Rifles at Jiribam, about 222 km west of here, in Imphal East district.

They said the 45 UTLA militants including S K Thadou had surrendered before the principal secretary home, Suresh Babu, Inspector General of Police (intelligence) Santosh Marchela, Shambhu Singh as a representative of Centre and other Senior ranking security officials at Jiribam bordering with Cachar district of Assam.
The agreement was signed after surrendering and laying down arms, they said.
Sources said more than 42 sophisticated arms which were laid down by the militants included AK 47 rifles, AK 56 Rifles, M-16 rifles, lethod bombs and several others including large number of ammunitions of different arms.
Speaking to reporters, UTLA president S K Thadou said they wanted peace to prevail in the state adding that those who are yet to lay down arms would soon come and join the national mainstream.

Official sources said so far more than seven militant outfits had signed the SOO agreement with the government. These militants would be kept at designated camps while the process for holding peace talks with them was on.