Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei informed the state Assembly that so far 2600 insurgents had joined the national mainstream through the provisions of the suspension of operations (soo). Besides 550 others had surrendered individually of their own volition.
Gangmei further said that Rs 2.5 lakh will be paid in the form of FDR (fixed deposit receipts) that can be enchased after a period of three years. The government will rehabilitate these former insurgents as per provisions of the SOO.
But, considering the fact that there are over 50 underground organisations in the state, officials admit that the figure is not so high. There are many factors for the lukewarm response. The first peace camp in Manipur in the late 1980s was closed down when there were complaints of camp mismanagements.
