ZODIN SANGA, ASSAM TRIBUNE
SESAWNG (Mizoram), April 13: Over
100 cadres of Hmar People’s Convention
(Democratic) today laid down their arms
at Central Training Centre (CTI), the
headquarters of Mizoram Home Guards,
near Sesawng village, about 40 kilometres
east of Aizawl.
The arms laying ceremony was graced
by Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla,
Home Minister R Lalzirliana, chief
secretary Arvind Ray, DGP and other top
officials of Home department, Ministers,
MLA and Hmar leaders.
Laying down of arms by HPC (D) cadres
followed the memorandum of settlement
signed between Mizoram Government and
Hmar militant outfit in Aizawl on April 2 Altogether, 102 cadres and 12 leaders
surrendered to the State Government and
also surrendered 45 different weapons including
13 double barrel guns, nine AK assault
rifles, six Heckler and Koch assault
rifles, four SRS A1 sniper rifles, one M79
Grenade Launcher and over 2,890 rounds
of ammunition, grenade and launcher shells.
The Chief Minister lauded the efforts
made by both the State Government officials
and HPC (D) leadership in bringing
peace to the north eastern part of the
State adjoining Manipur.
Home Minister R Lalzirliana, while
welcoming the HPC (D) faction led by H
Zosangbera, warned the other faction led
by the founding president of the group –
Lalhmingthanga Sanate not to take advantage
of the other faction laying down arms.
Lalzirliana said that firm action would
be taken if the Sanate faction tries to disrupt
peace in the State.
The two top State leaders also expressed
satisfaction over the arms surrendered by
HPC-D, which according to R Lalzirliana,
indicated the true committment of the
Hmar leaders towards peace and development
in the Hmar-dominated ares in Mizoram.
Both the CM and the HM recalled
how the Mizoram Government had been
dissapointed when the HPC, the parent organisation
of HPC-D laid down countrymade
rifles after the 1994 accord.
Each cadre of HPC (D) would be given
Rs 3 lakh each as a rehabilitation package
and over Rs 7 lakh was handed over to
the cadres as reward for surrender of different
kinds of weapons.
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