Surrendered ultras disillusioned with Meghalaya Government

TURA, April 21? A section of the surrendered A?chik National Volunteers Council (SANVC) militants, housed in the Goeragre camp of the 2nd MLP battalion near Tura, have become disillusioned with the Meghalaya Government over the latter?s failure to implement its loudly proclaimed rehabilitation package for surrendered militants of the State. The package announced by the Government was meant to ensure that the surrenderees would be rehabilitated and given counselling so that they could return to the main stream. A financial package was also included for those who completed the rehabilitation process so that they could start some form of trade as a means of livelihood. The package, in writing, was due to give a daily sum of fifty rupees of each surrenderee in the rehabilitation camp. After release from the camp on successful completion of their training, the government was supposed to give a sum of Rs twenty thousand for their self rehabilitation. The second installment of Rs twenty five thousand was to be given at the end of three months and the final amount of Rs thirty thousand was to be given after six months. Besides this, those who surrendered with arms were to be given an amount as reward. The amount was to vary according to the sophistication and power of the weapons. Those who have been denied these privileged have become disillusioned with the way the government is going about in implementing its rehabilitation package. Even the monthly stipend of Rs two thousand given to thirteen surrendered militants has long been stopped. The surrenderees were able to avail of the stipend only from January to December, 2001. This year, they have not received the monthly amount. The amount they earlier got had served some purpose in the form of purchasing daily necessities. Eight of the surrenderees have not been paid the stipend even once and are yet to be issued identity cards. They include those who surrendered in June-2001, and the reward for depositing arms has also not reached them. The eight militants had deposited two .303 rifles, one American shotgun, two Chinese rifles, two AK-56 rifles, five Chinese hand grenades, and a large amount of ammunition. The militants had recently called on the Chief Minister, Dr F A Khonglam, and on the Home Minister, Lotsing A Sangma, seeking their intervention. Ironically, sources inform that both were unaware that the rehabilitation package was not reaching all the militants. The police department, on the other hand, is handicapped in helping them because the money does not reach in time. The surrenderees have also expressed their keenness to join in the 4th Indian Reserve Battalion which will have its headquarters in the Garo Hills. They urged upon the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to initiate the process of their recruitment into the 4th battalion. The Chief Minister has also advised them to join the new battalion coming up.