Imphal: Militants, preparing to hold peace
talks and lodged in government-run designated camps, have been
instructed not to involve themselves in the forthcoming
Manipur assembly elections on January 28, official sources
said on Thursday.
The decision to instruct the militants particularly those
belonging to Kuki community, was taken during a meeting of the
newly-constituted state co-ordination committee to monitor the
January 28 election here last evening. The meeting was
presided over by the chief secretary, D S Poonia.
Sources said the meeting discussed the security measures to
be taken during the one day poll as some militant
organisations had announced that they would boycott the
elections.
The sources said that some Kuki militant organisations had
earlier signed an agreement with the government under which
security forces would not attack or operate againtst them,
adding that the militants were being kept in the designated
camps.
The meeting decided that these militants should remain in
the camps and the responsibility of keeping them there was in
the hands of central para military forces, sources said.
Naga militants, particularly those belonging to the
National Socialist Council of Nagaland, which has been holding
peace talks with the government should also refrain from
taking part in the elections, the meeting said.
Sources said the Kuki militants who wanted to hold peace
talks were being kept in the designated camps.
All possible steps would be taken to prevent the militants
from taking part in the elections, sources said.
PTI
