Militant leader released to join peace talks in Manipur

Self-styled commander in chief of militant outfit KCP-MC, Nongdrenkhomba faction, Ningthoujam Romen (30) has been released from Manipur`s Sajiwa jail.

Imphal: Self-styled commander in chief of militant outfit Kangleipak Communist Party-Military Council (KCP-MC), Nongdrenkhomba faction, Ningthoujam Romen (30) has been released from Manipur`s Sajiwa jail to enable him join peace talks with central and state governments.

Official sources said some senior members of the militant faction held initial meetings for holding formal peace talks and Romen, who is the leader of this group, who was released yesterday, would be joining the peace talks soon. Romen, who was taken to a camp of 46th Assam Rifles battalion in interior Churachandpur district, was arrested by a team of Delhi police on October 31 last year from an inter-state bus terminal, sources said, adding that on request of Manipur police, he was sent to Manipur and kept at Sajiwa jail on the outskirts of Imphal after re-arrest by Manipur police. The militant leader who hails from interior Bishenpur district, was allegedly involved in murder, abduction of people and extortion of money from the general public, sources said adding that all cases against him have been dropped to enable him participate in peace talks. Sources said already more than six militant outfits including Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup-Military Defence Force, United People`s Party of Kangleipak, some factions of KCP-MC and some Kuki outfits have laid down arms for holding peace talks with the Centre and state governments. PTI